Neurological examination of cortical function deficits

Human cortical functions have been elucidated by studies of deficits in traumatic and vascular brain damage, outcomes after elective neurosurgical procedures, studies in primates and in more recent years by imaging techniques. Cortical functions are well-defined for primary cortical areas like motor, sensory and visual functions. More complex cortical functions like language and to some degree memory are also well clarified. The associative cortical areas are more difficult to study as functions are integrated to and modulate primary cortical functions. Nevertheless, the structural basis for symptoms like neglect, apraxia and agnosia has been well established. Recent data from functional imaging indicate that large and diverse areas of the cerebral cortex are involved in planning motor tasks or coding (memory). This review focuses on the clinical neurological evaluation of cortical function deficits.