Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Action Potential

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...

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...

Sympathetic Activation

Sympathetic Activation

The sympathetic division can influence tissues and organs by releasing norepinephrine at peripheral synapses and distributing epinephrine and norepinephrine through the bloodstream. In times of crisis or stress, sympathetic activation occurs, which is regulated by sympathetic centers in the hypothalamus. As a result, sympathetic activation prepares the body for physical exertion, rapid ATP production, and heightened alertness, allowing individuals to respond effectively to challenging or...

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,...

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

The thalamus, often called “the gateway to the cerebral cortex,” is vital in processing and directing sensory and motor signals throughout the brain. Almost all inputs destined for the cerebral cortex, except for olfactory signals, are relayed through the thalamus. The thalamus is a sophisticated relay station, channeling information from various brain regions to the cerebral cortex, as well as a filter, prioritizing certain signals over others based on current physiological states or needs.

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.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Sex-Specific Association Between Socioeconomic Status and Stroke Mortality.

Journal of the American Heart Association·2026

Same author

Rural-Urban Disparities in Epilepsy Outcomes in the United States.

Neurology·2026

Same author

Comparison of neuropsychological side effects between contemporary radiofrequency ablative neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders and conventional neurosurgical procedures: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry·2026

Same author

The Use of Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) in the Management of Patients with Difficult-to-Treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): An Expert Consensus Statement.

Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment·2026

Same author

Deep Learning (nnU-Net)-Based Segmentation of Primary HPV-Positive OPSCC: Contrast-Enhanced T1-Weighted Fat-Suppressed Versus Non-Contrast-Enhanced T2-Weighted Fat-Suppressed MRI (Paired Single-Center Study).

Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

A Multi-Symptom Circuit Architecture of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Published on: April 15, 2015

Action initiation in the human dorsal anterior cingulate cortex.

Lakshminarayan Srinivasan¹, Wael F Asaad, Daniel T Ginat

¹Neural Signal Processing Laboratory, Department of Radiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America. ls2@nsplab.org

|March 6, 2013

Summary

The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) influences action initiation timing. Ablation increased premature movements, suggesting its role in controlling action onset separately from decision-making.

More Related Videos

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

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression

Published on: May 19, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Published on: April 15, 2015

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

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression

Published on: May 19, 2015

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience
Neuropsychology

Background:

The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) is linked to action initiation processes.
Direct human evidence connecting dACC to the precise timing of action onset is limited.
Understanding dACC's role in action initiation is crucial for explaining motor control deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the immediate effects of dACC ablation on action initiation in humans.
To determine if dACC influences the temporal onset of actions independently of action selection.

Main Methods:

Studied reactive behavior in patients undergoing therapeutic bilateral cingulotomy.
Utilized a simple reaction task requiring joystick movement in response to visual cues.
Assessed action initiation in a decision-making task to evaluate persistent effects.

Main Results:

Following dACC ablation, patients exhibited a significant increase in false starts (premature movements).
This effect on action initiation persisted even when action selection capabilities remained intact.
Findings demonstrate an immediate impact of dACC ablation on controlling the timing of actions.

Conclusions:

The human dACC plays a critical role in regulating the temporal initiation of actions.
dACC's influence on action initiation is distinct from its involvement in action selection.
These findings provide direct evidence for dACC's function in preventing premature motor output.