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Somatosensation

Somatosensation

The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.

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.

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,...

Cerebral Hemispheres

Cerebral Hemispheres

The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Published on: September 12, 2011

How somatic cortical maps differ in autistic and typical brains.

Mehmet Akif Coskun¹, Larry Varghese, Stacy Reddoch

¹Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-4005, USA.

|December 6, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder show altered sensory cortex organization. Brain imaging reveals atypical spatial mapping of tactile sensations, suggesting widespread neurodevelopmental differences in autism.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Neuroscience
Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by core social-communicative deficits and restricted, repetitive behaviors.
Comorbid sensorimotor abnormalities in ASD suggest pervasive atypicalities in brain development and sensory cortex organization.
Understanding sensory processing in ASD is crucial for identifying underlying neural mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the cortical organization of sensory representations in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
To compare the spatial mapping of tactile stimuli between the thumb, index finger, and lip in autistic and typically developing individuals.
To provide the first evidence of abnormal sensory organization in the brains of individuals with autism.

Main Methods:

Utilized magnetoencephalography (MEG) to measure cortical responses to passive tactile stimulation.
Focused on the dominant hand's thumb and index finger, and the lip as stimulation sites.
Analyzed the cortical distance between representations of the thumb and lip, and the relative proximity of thumb and index finger representations.

Main Results:

The cortical distance between thumb and lip representations was significantly larger in the autism group compared to controls.
In typically developing individuals, the thumb's cortical representation is typically closer to the lip than the index finger's representation.
This typical proximity relationship between thumb, index finger, and lip representations was not observed in individuals with autism.

Conclusions:

The findings demonstrate abnormal sensory organization within the somatosensory cortex in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
These results support the hypothesis of pervasive neurodevelopmental abnormalities and atypical cortical organization in ASD.
This study provides novel insights into the neural underpinnings of sensory processing differences in autism.