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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...
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,...
Lateralization01:28

Lateralization

Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
Somatosensation01:33

Somatosensation

The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.
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.

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Updated: May 20, 2026

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping
13:12

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Spatio-temporal updating in the left posterior parietal cortex.

Makoto Wada1, Kouji Takano, Shiro Ikegami

  • 1Systems Neuroscience Section, Department of Rehabilitation for Brain Functions, Research Institute of National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa, Japan.

Plos One
|July 7, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Crossing arms can alter tactile perception, creating paradoxical feelings. This study found increased left posterior parietal cortex activity, particularly the intraparietal sulcus, associated with these altered tactile temporal order judgments.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Somatosensory Perception
  • Cognitive Psychology

Background:

  • Unusual body postures can lead to altered sensory experiences, such as changes in tactile perception.
  • The parietal cortex is known to be involved in processing spatial and temporal information for both sensory input and motor actions.
  • The neural mechanisms underlying paradoxical sensory experiences due to unusual limb positions remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural basis of paradoxical tactile experiences arising from unusual limb postures.
  • To examine the role of the posterior parietal cortex in processing spatio-temporal information related to tactile stimuli on the limbs.
  • To correlate brain activity with behavioral changes in tactile temporal order judgments.

Main Methods:

  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure brain activity in participants.
  • Participants adopted a crossed-hands posture with their eyes closed.
  • Tactile temporal order judgments (TOJs) were assessed to quantify the subjective ordering of tactile stimuli.

Main Results:

  • Increased fMRI activation was observed in the left posterior parietal cortex when participants crossed their arms.
  • A positive association was found between activity in this region and the degree of reversal in TOJs.
  • The strongest association was specifically identified in the left intraparietal sulcus.

Conclusions:

  • The left posterior parietal cortex plays a critical role in monitoring limb position.
  • This brain region is involved in spatio-temporal binding of serial events delivered to the limbs.
  • Altered tactile perception in unusual postures is linked to activity in the left posterior parietal cortex, particularly the intraparietal sulcus.