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Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

Motor 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.

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association 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,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control

Published on: July 5, 2015

Brain areas specific for attentional load in a motion-tracking task.

J Jovicich¹, R J Peters, C Koch

¹California Institute of Technology & Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, CA, USA. jovicich@psyche.mit.edu

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

|January 11, 2002

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study reveals distinct brain activity patterns during visual attention tasks. Posterior parietal areas, including the intraparietal sulcus, show increased activity with higher attentional load.

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Last Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control

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Published on: July 5, 2015

Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments

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Published on: January 23, 2017

Investigating the Deployment of Visual Attention Before Accurate and Averaging Saccades via Eye Tracking and Assessment of Visual Sensitivity

Investigating the Deployment of Visual Attention Before Accurate and Averaging Saccades via Eye Tracking and Assessment of Visual Sensitivity

Published on: March 18, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience
Neuroimaging

Background:

Visual attention modulates activity in posterior parietal, prefrontal, and visual sensory areas.
The specific roles of these brain regions in controlling attentional resources are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the distinct roles of brain areas in the control of visual attentional resources.
To identify how different brain regions respond to varying levels of attentional load.

Main Methods:

Parametric functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study.
Subjects performed a covert motion-tracking task.
Attentional load was manipulated by varying the number of tracked balls.

Main Results:

Widespread effects of attention were observed, independent of attentional load.
Robust linear increases in brain activity correlated with the number of tracked balls, primarily in posterior parietal areas.
Posterior parietal areas, including the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and superior parietal lobule (SPL), showed load-dependent increases in activity.

Conclusions:

A dissociation in response profiles was observed between sensory and control brain areas.
Posterior parietal areas play a significant role in the deployment of visual attentional resources.
Findings suggest specific functional roles for different brain regions in visual attention control.