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Related Concept Videos

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,...

Vision

Vision

Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.

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.

Visual System

Visual System

Light enters the eye through the cornea, a transparent, dome-shaped surface covering the surface of the eyeball that helps to direct and focus incoming light. This light is then channeled toward the pupil, an adjustable opening whose size is controlled by the iris. The iris, a pigmented muscle, regulates the amount of light entering the eye by contracting or dilating the pupil, thereby ensuring optimal light levels for clear vision.
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation

Published on: December 8, 2023

From retinotopy to recognition: fMRI in human visual cortex.

R B Tootell¹, N K Hadjikhani, J D Mendola

¹Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

|January 14, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reveals detailed maps of the human visual cortex. This review explores how these sensory maps integrate with cognitive functions like mental imagery and spatial attention.

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Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation

Published on: December 8, 2023

Topographical Estimation of Visual Population Receptive Fields by fMRI

Topographical Estimation of Visual Population Receptive Fields by fMRI

Published on: February 3, 2015

High-resolution Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Methods for Human Midbrain

High-resolution Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Methods for Human Midbrain

Published on: May 10, 2012

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Science
Neuroimaging

Background:

Recent advancements in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) provide detailed maps of human visual cortex organization.
Understanding the relationship between sensory processing and cognitive functions is crucial for neuroscience.

Purpose of the Study:

To review how sensory maps in the visual cortex relate to cognitive visuo-spatial dimensions.
To explore the influence of cognitive factors on visual cortex organization.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on fMRI studies of human visual cortex.
Analysis of studies investigating retinotopy and functional organization.
Synthesis of findings on the interaction between sensory maps and cognitive functions.

Main Results:

Sensory-based maps in the visual cortex are topographically related to cognitive visuo-spatial dimensions.
Cognitive factors such as mental imagery, spatial attention, repetition effects, and size perception influence these visual maps.

Conclusions:

The human visual cortex integrates sensory information with complex cognitive processes.
Visuo-spatial cognition dynamically shapes the functional organization of the visual cortex.