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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.

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.

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,...

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...

Curvilinear Motion: Rectangular Components

Curvilinear Motion: Rectangular Components

Curvilinear motion characterizes the movement of a particle or object along a curved path, notably evident when envisioning a car navigating a winding road. If the car starts at point A, its position vector is established within a fixed frame of reference, where the ratio of the position vector to its magnitude signifies the unit vector pointing in the position vector's direction.
As the car advances, its position evolves over time. Quantifying the car's velocity involves computing the time...

Depth Perception and Spatial Vision

Depth Perception and Spatial Vision

Depth perception is the ability to perceive objects three-dimensionally. It relies on two types of cues: binocular and monocular. Binocular cues depend on the combination of images from both eyes and how the eyes work together. Since the eyes are in slightly different positions, each eye captures a slightly different image. This disparity between images, known as binocular disparity, helps the brain interpret depth. When the brain compares these images, it determines the distance to an object.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Stimulus-specific Cortical Visual Evoked Potential Morphological Patterns

Stimulus-specific Cortical Visual Evoked Potential Morphological Patterns

Published on: May 12, 2019

Distinct cortical responses to 2D figures defined by motion contrast.

Jeremy D Fesi¹, Michael P Yannes, Danielle D Brinckman

¹The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Psychology, 111 Moore Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States. jdf232@psu.edu

Vision Research

|August 9, 2011

Summary

This study reveals two distinct brain responses to motion contrast, with one signaling contrast magnitude and the other detecting figure appearance. These findings shed light on the neural mechanisms of visual segregation.

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Last Updated: May 30, 2026

Stimulus-specific Cortical Visual Evoked Potential Morphological Patterns

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Published on: May 12, 2019

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

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Published on: August 1, 2018

Motion-Acuity Test for Visual Field Acuity Measurement with Motion-Defined Shapes

Motion-Acuity Test for Visual Field Acuity Measurement with Motion-Defined Shapes

Published on: February 23, 2024

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Visual Perception
Computational Neuroscience

Background:

Motion contrast is crucial for separating figures from backgrounds.
Neural mechanisms underlying motion contrast processing remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the cortical response function to varying magnitudes of motion contrast.
To differentiate neural responses related to motion contrast magnitude versus figure-background segregation dynamics.

Main Methods:

Measured steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) using electroencephalography (EEG).
Utilized moving dot displays with controlled direction and coherence contrast at 1.2Hz.
Employed both low and high-density EEG electrode arrays across two experiments.

Main Results:

Identified two phase-locked SSVEP responses at 1.2Hz (1F1) and 2.4Hz (2F1).
The 1F1 response amplitude increased with motion contrast magnitude, while the 2F1 response saturated at low contrast levels.
Distinct scalp distributions were observed: 1F1 strongest medially, 2F1 bilateral.

Conclusions:

Cortical systems process different motion contrast types with similar dynamics.
Evidence suggests separable neural systems for signaling motion contrast magnitude and detecting figure appearance/disappearance.