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Related Concept Videos

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex01:23

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 Cortex01:14

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.
Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview I01:26

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...
Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview II01:11

Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview II

Each cerebral hemisphere can be divided into three main regions. The outermost region, the cerebral cortex, is a thin layer (2 to 4 millimeters thick) made up of gray matter, consisting of neuron cell bodies, dendrites, glial cells, and blood vessels. The middle region, or white matter, is primarily composed of myelinated nerve fibers organized into three types of large tracts: association fibers, commissures, and projection fibers. Association fibers connect different areas within the same...
Lobes of the Cerebrum01:22

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.
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

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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A Comparison of two Maps of the Human Neocortex: the multimodal MRI-based parcellation of Glasser et al. (2016a), and the myeloarchitectonic parcellation of Nieuwenhuys and Broere (2023), as a first step toward a unified, canonical map.

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A detailed comparison of the cytoarchitectonic and myeloarchitectonic maps of the human neocortex produced by the Vogt-Vogt school.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Visualization of Cortical Modules in Flattened Mammalian Cortices
08:49

Visualization of Cortical Modules in Flattened Mammalian Cortices

Published on: January 22, 2018

The insular cortex: a review.

Rudolf Nieuwenhuys1

  • 1Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. RudolfN@planet.nl

Progress in Brain Research
|January 11, 2012
PubMed
Summary

The human insular cortex, a hidden brain lobe, is involved in diverse functions from pain to emotions. Its evolution and cellular structure, including von Economo neurons, are key to understanding brain complexity.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Comparative Anatomy
  • Cortical Evolution

Background:

  • The human insular cortex is a concealed lobe within the Sylvian fissure.
  • It plays a role in numerous functions, including pain perception, speech, and social emotions.
  • Its connectivity includes sensory thalamic nuclei, amygdala, and limbic/association cortical areas.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent literature on the insular cortex's connectivity and functions.
  • To analyze the structural organization of the insular cortex throughout mammalian evolution.
  • To explore the relationship between insular cortex structure and function.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive review of existing literature, including historical publications (Rose, Brockhaus).
  • Analysis of evolutionary differentiation in hominoids and primates.

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A Guide to In vivo Single-unit Recording from Optogenetically Identified Cortical Inhibitory Interneurons
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  • Examination of the cytoarchitecture, including von Economo neurons (VENs).

    • Main Results:

    • The insular cortex exhibits significant evolutionary differentiation.
    • The three-zone model (agranular, dysgranular, granular) is supported, with anterior insula architecture needing clarification.
    • Von Economo neurons are found in various large-brained mammals, not exclusively humans and apes.

    Conclusions:

    • Historical studies remain crucial for understanding insular cortex architecture.
    • The insular cortex's relationship with the claustrum is topographical, not ontogenetic or functional.
    • The human insula offers a unique model for comparative structure-function analysis.