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Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview I

Cerebrum: 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...

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...

Lobes of the Cerebrum

Lobes of the Cerebrum

The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements.

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.

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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Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Published on: August 12, 2019

Topographic maps in human frontal and parietal cortex.

Michael A Silver¹, Sabine Kastner

¹School of Optometry, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, and Henry H. Wheeler, Jr. Brain Imaging Center, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. masilver@berkeley.edu

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

|September 18, 2009

Summary

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reveals new topographic maps in human parietal and frontal cortex. These areas are involved in higher-order cognitive functions and visual spatial processing.

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Published on: October 24, 2012

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience
Neuroimaging

Background:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has successfully mapped visual cortex, identifying retinotopic representations of visual fields.
Previous retinotopic mapping focused primarily on early visual areas.
Emerging research applies these techniques to higher-order cognitive tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the discovery and characterization of new topographic cortical areas in the human parietal and frontal lobes.
To describe the anatomical locations, visual field organization, and functional specialization of these higher-order areas.
To explore the implications for understanding cognitive processes and their evolution.

Main Methods:

Retinotopic mapping using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
Analysis of fMRI responses during tasks involving spatial attention, working memory, and saccadic eye movements.
Integration of anatomical localization with functional specialization data.

Main Results:

Identification of multiple new areas in the human parietal and frontal cortex.
Demonstration that these areas contain topographic maps of visual space.
These areas are engaged during complex cognitive processes beyond basic visual perception.

Conclusions:

Higher-order topographic cortex plays a crucial role in cognitive functions.
These findings provide insights into the neural mechanisms underlying cognition.
Comparative studies with non-human primates can illuminate the evolution of cognition.