Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
10:33
Correlating Behavioral Responses to fMRI Signals from Human Prefrontal Cortex: Examining Cognitive Processes Using Task Analysis
Published on: June 20, 2012
Prefrontal cortex in humans and apes: a comparative study of area 10
K Semendeferi1, E Armstrong, A Schleicher
1Department of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093, USA. ksemende@ucsd.edu
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|March 10, 2001
Summary
Area 10, crucial for planning, is found at the frontal pole in humans and apes. Human Area 10 is relatively larger, suggesting specialization during human evolution.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Comparative Anatomy
- Primatology
Background:
- Area 10 is a frontal lobe region vital for higher cognitive functions.
- Its presence and organization in great and lesser apes are not well-understood.
- Area 10 forms the frontal pole in humans and macaques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the presence and organization of Area 10 in chimpanzee, bonobo, orangutan, and gibbon brains.
- To characterize Area 10 across hominoid species using imaging and stereology.
- To estimate the absolute and relative size of Area 10 in these species.
Main Methods:
- Utilized advanced imaging techniques.
- Employed stereological tools for quantitative analysis.
- Performed comparative cytoarchitectonic analysis across species.
Main Results:
- Area 10 forms the frontal pole in chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, and gibbons.
- Cytoarchitectonic features are similar across hominoids, with variations in cortical layer width and connectivity space.
- Gorilla frontal pole cortex appears specialized; gibbon Area 10 is restricted to the orbital sector.
- Human Area 10 is proportionally larger with expanded supragranular layers.
Conclusions:
- Area 10 is conserved at the frontal pole across hominoids, but with species-specific organizational differences.
- The expansion and specialization of human Area 10 suggest neural substrate evolution for advanced cognition.
- Comparative analysis reveals evolutionary changes in brain regions supporting higher cognitive functions.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Anatomy of the Brain: Major Regions
The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It consists of four main parts: the cerebrum, diencephalon, cerebellum, and brainstem.
The cerebrum is the largest section of the brain and divides into left and right hemispheres, separated by a deep fissure. The cerebral outer layer of grey matter — the cerebral cortex — comprises elevations called gyri and shallow groves called sulci. The inner portion of white matter includes long nerve fibers known as axons, which connect various areas...
The cerebrum is the largest section of the brain and divides into left and right hemispheres, separated by a deep fissure. The cerebral outer layer of grey matter — the cerebral cortex — comprises elevations called gyri and shallow groves called sulci. The inner portion of white matter includes long nerve fibers known as axons, which connect various areas...
01:26Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview I
The main and largest component of the human brain is the cerebrum. The cerebrum consists of two main parts: the cerebral cortex, an outer layer with wrinkles or folds known as gyri and shallow grooves called sulci, and a deeper region beneath it. The cerebrum divides into two distinct hemispheres and contains five different lobes: the frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, and insula. The central sulcus separates the frontal and parietal lobes and two functionally important gyri — the...
01:14Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
01:23Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex
The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at the...