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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...

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

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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,...

Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

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The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
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Lobes of the Cerebrum

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

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

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

Published on: August 1, 2018

Functional activation of the infant cortex during object processing.

Teresa Wilcox¹, Jessica Stubbs, Amy Hirshkowitz

¹Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. twilcox@tamu.edu

|May 29, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The infant cortex shows early specialization for visual object processing, identified using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Activation patterns evolve between 3 and 12 months, suggesting cortical reorganization or cognitive development.

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Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations

Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations

Published on: July 1, 2015

Area of Science:

Developmental neuroscience
Cognitive neuroscience
Neuroimaging

Background:

Extensive research exists on adult visual object processing.
Limited understanding of infant neural mechanisms for object recognition.
Object recognition models benefit from insights into early development.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate the neural basis of object processing in infants.
Examine functional cortical activation during object tasks in early development.
Determine if the infant cortex is specialized for object processing.

Main Methods:

Utilized near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for neuroimaging.
Employed a standardized object processing task with infant participants.
Analyzed functional activation patterns in the infant cortex.

Main Results:

Demonstrated functional specialization of the infant cortex for object processing (individuation-by-feature) early in the first year.
Observed significant changes in cortical activation patterns between 3 and 12 months of age.
Identified age-related differences in neural activity during object tasks.

Conclusions:

The infant brain exhibits early functional specialization for visual object processing.
Developmental changes in cortical activation suggest ongoing neural reorganization.
Age-related shifts in cognitive strategies may influence observed neural patterns.