Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

Somatosensory, 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...

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.

The Effect of Aging on Tissues

The Effect of Aging on Tissues

Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...

Aging

Aging

Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...

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,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

This time with feeling: recommendations for full-bodied reporting of research on dance.

Frontiers in cognition·2026

Same author

Poorer Physical Function Is Associated With Elevated Spatial Entropy in the Aging Brain Network Landscape.

Aging cell·2026

Same author

Enhancing 1p/19q Classification in Brain Gliomas Using IDH Status: A Deep Learning Study.

AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology·2026

Same author

The University of Texas Southwestern Glioma Dataset - MRI, Molecular Markers and Segmentations.

Scientific data·2026

Same author

MRI-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in Movement Disorders: Targeting Pathologic Brain Circuits With Precision Imaging, From the <i>AJR</i> Special Series on Critical Anatomy.

AJR. American journal of roentgenology·2026

Same author

Spatial Entropy of Brain Network Landscapes: A Novel Method to Assess Spatial Disorder in Brain Networks.

Human brain mapping·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Imaging the Aging Cochlea with Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy

Imaging the Aging Cochlea with Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: September 28, 2022

Aging and the interaction of sensory cortical function and structure.

Ann M Peiffer¹, Christina E Hugenschmidt, Joseph A Maldjian

¹Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. apeiffer@wfubmc.edu

Human Brain Mapping

|December 12, 2007

Summary

Older adults show altered cross-modal sensory interactions, with reduced visual cortex suppression by sound in ventral regions and increased suppression in dorsal regions. These changes impact attention and distractibility.

More Related Videos

Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology

Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology

Published on: March 23, 2011

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance

Published on: May 7, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Imaging the Aging Cochlea with Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy

Imaging the Aging Cochlea with Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: September 28, 2022

Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology

Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology

Published on: March 23, 2011

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance

Published on: May 7, 2014

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Aging
Sensory Processing

Background:

Aging impacts cognitive and sensory functions, including reduced neural responses.
Sensory systems interact, influencing neural responses to stimuli.
Limited research exists on how aging affects cross-modal sensory interactions, specifically deactivations.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate age-related changes in cross-modal deactivations within the visual cortex.
To understand how auditory stimuli affect visual cortical activity in younger versus older adults.
To explore the role of sensory interaction alterations in age-related distractibility.

Main Methods:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used.
Sixty-one adults aged 18-80 participated.
Participants performed simple auditory and visual discrimination tasks.

Main Results:

Older adults showed reduced neural responses to visual stimuli, confirming prior findings.
Age-related alterations in cross-modal interactions were observed in the visual cortex.
Ventral visual cortex showed cross-modal deactivation in younger adults but not older adults.
Dorsal visual cortex showed cross-modal suppression in older adults but not younger adults.
These differences persisted after controlling for brain volume.

Conclusions:

Aging alters functional interactions between auditory and visual sensory systems.
Cross-modal deactivations in the visual cortex differ significantly between younger and older adults.
Observed functional changes are not solely explained by age-related gray matter volume reduction.