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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.

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the cerebellum's...

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.

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...

Hierarchy of Motor Control

Hierarchy of Motor Control

The hierarchy of motor control refers to the different levels of organization and processing involved in controlling movement in the body. These levels range from higher cortical areas involved in planning and decision-making to lower spinal cord reflexes that respond automatically to external stimuli.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Published on: September 28, 2018

Proactive and reactive control by the medial frontal cortex.

Veit Stuphorn¹, Erik E Emeric

¹Psychological and Brain Sciences, The Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, USA.

Frontiers in Neuroengineering

|June 23, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study reveals dual control mechanisms in the medial frontal cortex for action control. Monkeys performing a stop signal task showed distinct proactive and reactive inhibition strategies.

Keywords:

control inhibition primate stop signal task supplementary motor area

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Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication

Published on: February 6, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Published on: September 28, 2018

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication

Published on: February 6, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience
Primate Research

Background:

Adaptive behavior relies on flexible action control, involving both proactive anticipation and reactive adjustments.
Human neuroimaging studies suggest a network of brain regions involved in proactive and reactive control.
Limitations in human BOLD signal resolution hinder precise functional localization of these brain regions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying proactive and reactive control in action inhibition.
To overcome the limitations of human neuroimaging by employing single-unit recordings in non-human primates.
To elucidate the specific roles of the medial frontal cortex in response inhibition.

Main Methods:

Utilized the stop signal (countermanding) task in non-human primates (monkeys).
Performed single-unit recordings in the medial frontal cortex to capture neural activity.
Analyzed behavioral and physiological data to identify distinct control mechanisms.

Main Results:

Identified distinct neural signals associated with proactive and reactive control during response inhibition.
Provided physiological evidence for dual mechanisms operating within the medial frontal cortex.
Demonstrated the capability of single-unit recordings to disambiguate neural functions.

Conclusions:

The medial frontal cortex employs dual mechanisms for flexible action control and response inhibition.
Proactive and reactive control strategies are neurally dissociable and critical for adaptive behavior.
Non-human primate models with single-unit recordings are essential for understanding complex cognitive functions.