Which of the following is most likely to occur in a person with damage to the frontal eye field?

• A. Inability to understand spoken language
• B. Impaired sensation on one side of the body
• C. Difficulty in voluntarily moving the eyes to look at objects in the periphery
• D. Loss of the ability to recognize faces

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of the frontal eye field (FEF) in the brain. The FEF is primarily involved in controlling voluntary eye movements, especially saccades, which are quick, simultaneous movements of both eyes in the same direction.
2. Review the functions associated with the other options: Inability to understand spoken language is typically linked to damage in Wernicke's area; impaired sensation on one side of the body is related to damage in the somatosensory cortex or pathways; loss of the ability to recognize faces is associated with damage to the fusiform gyrus.
3. Recognize that damage to the frontal eye field would most directly affect the ability to voluntarily move the eyes, particularly to look at objects in the peripheral visual field, because the FEF sends signals to the brainstem to initiate these eye movements.
4. Eliminate options that are related to other brain areas and functions, focusing on the symptom that matches the FEF's role in eye movement control.
5. Conclude that the most likely symptom of damage to the frontal eye field is difficulty in voluntarily moving the eyes to look at objects in the periphery.