A problem with forming or executing purposeful movements is known as?

The term that describes a problem with forming or executing purposeful movements is indeed apraxia. Apraxia is a neurological condition that affects an individual's ability to perform tasks or movements when asked, even though they have the desire to perform them and understand the task’s purpose. This disorder occurs despite intact motor and sensory functions, indicating that the issue lies in the brain's ability to plan and sequence the movements necessary for the task, rather than in the physical ability to execute them.

In contrast, ataxia refers to a lack of muscle coordination that affects gait and balance, but it doesn't specifically denote the inability to plan or execute movements purposefully. Aphasia is concerned with language abilities, including speaking, understanding, reading, and writing, and does not relate directly to movement execution. Atrophy relates to the wasting away or decrease in muscle tissue, which is not linked to the cognitive or neurological aspects of movement execution. Thus, apraxia most accurately defines the inability to carry out purposeful movements due to higher-level neurological dysfunction.