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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....

Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System

Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System

The somatosensory system is the central and peripheral nervous system component that senses and processes touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and body position or proprioception. The process of sensation takes place at three levels:
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the...

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...

Vision

Vision

Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.

Somatosensation

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.

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,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

Large-scale Three-dimensional Imaging of Cellular Organization in the Mouse Neocortex

Large-scale Three-dimensional Imaging of Cellular Organization in the Mouse Neocortex

Published on: September 5, 2018

Neural maps versus salt-and-pepper organization in visual cortex.

Matthias Kaschube¹

¹Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Current Opinion in Neurobiology

|February 5, 2014

Summary

Spatial patterns in the mammalian visual cortex are intriguing. Comparing primate and rodent visual systems reveals differences in cortical maps, offering insights into vision across species.

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Targeted Labeling of Neurons in a Specific Functional Micro-domain of the Neocortex by Combining Intrinsic Signal and Two-photon Imaging

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Published on: December 12, 2012

Revealing Neural Circuit Topography in Multi-Color

Revealing Neural Circuit Topography in Multi-Color

Published on: November 14, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 3, 2026

Large-scale Three-dimensional Imaging of Cellular Organization in the Mouse Neocortex

Large-scale Three-dimensional Imaging of Cellular Organization in the Mouse Neocortex

Published on: September 5, 2018

Targeted Labeling of Neurons in a Specific Functional Micro-domain of the Neocortex by Combining Intrinsic Signal and Two-photon Imaging

Targeted Labeling of Neurons in a Specific Functional Micro-domain of the Neocortex by Combining Intrinsic Signal and Two-photon Imaging

Published on: December 12, 2012

Revealing Neural Circuit Topography in Multi-Color

Revealing Neural Circuit Topography in Multi-Color

Published on: November 14, 2011

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Computational Neuroscience
Comparative Vision Research

Background:

Theoretical neuroscience has long studied spatial patterns of neuronal selectivities in mammalian visual cortices.
Previous research focused on understanding how the brain learns to see through theoretical models.
Recent experiments reveal spatial irregularities in rodent visual cortex response properties, challenging existing models.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the origin and functional significance of cortical maps.
To characterize species-specific differences in cortical design principles.
To compare primate and non-primate visual systems for a deeper understanding of vision.

Main Methods:

Theoretical modeling of neuronal selectivities.
Analysis of experimental data on visual response properties.
Comparative analysis of cortical organization across species.

Main Results:

Identified spatial irregularities in rodent visual cortex.
Highlighted significant differences in cortical design principles between species.
Provided a basis for comparing primate and non-primate visual processing.

Conclusions:

Species-specific cortical organization plays a crucial role in visual processing.
Comparative studies are essential for understanding the diversity of visual systems.
Further research is needed to elucidate the functional implications of cortical map variations.