Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex01:23

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

5.1K
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...
5.1K
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

9.5K
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....
9.5K
Lobes of the Cerebrum01:22

Lobes of the Cerebrum

6.4K
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....
6.4K
Major Somatic Sensory Pathways01:28

Major Somatic Sensory Pathways

3.6K
Sensory impulses related to touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from various body parts, such as the limbs, trunk, neck, and posterior head, travel to the cerebral cortex through the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway. The pathway’s name derives from the two white-matter tracts that convey the impulses: the spinal cord's posterior column and the brainstem's medial lemniscus. First-order sensory neurons extend their axons into the spinal cord, forming the...
3.6K
Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory01:14

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

1.6K
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...
1.6K
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

10.8K
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,...
10.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Co-Contraction Training Induces Muscle Hypertrophy but Not Strength Gains in Older Adults: A Controlled Intervention Study.

Health science reports·2026
Same author

Pathological disruption of CELF2 shuttling causes neuronal hyperactivity, learning deficits, and seizures.

The Journal of clinical investigation·2026
Same author

Verification of the Phadebas® forensic press test for the screening of human saliva.

Forensic science international. Synergy·2026
Same author

A retrospective analysis of domestic sheep and goat Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis diagnostic results from the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

American journal of veterinary research·2026
Same author

Tick and tick-borne disease management requires an integrated One Health approach.

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2026
Same author

Parkinson's through a cultural lens: Diversity in disease expression and care.

Journal of Parkinson's disease·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Reversible Cooling-induced Deactivations to Study Cortical Contributions to Obstacle Memory in the Walking Cat
09:43

Reversible Cooling-induced Deactivations to Study Cortical Contributions to Obstacle Memory in the Walking Cat

Published on: December 11, 2017

7.4K

Standing still: is there a role for the cortex?

Jessy Parokaran Varghese1, Kit B Beyer1, Laura Williams1

  • 1Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Neuroscience Letters
|January 28, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Cortical activity is involved in maintaining balance, even during quiet standing. Researchers found an N1 potential in brain activity preceding balance reactions to instability.

Keywords:
Balance controlElectroencephalographyEvoked-potentialsPostural swaySpectral analysis

More Related Videos

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
08:12

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control

Published on: September 11, 2019

10.3K
Sit-to-stand-and-walk from 120% Knee Height: A Novel Approach to Assess Dynamic Postural Control Independent of Lead-limb
08:24

Sit-to-stand-and-walk from 120% Knee Height: A Novel Approach to Assess Dynamic Postural Control Independent of Lead-limb

Published on: August 30, 2016

10.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Reversible Cooling-induced Deactivations to Study Cortical Contributions to Obstacle Memory in the Walking Cat
09:43

Reversible Cooling-induced Deactivations to Study Cortical Contributions to Obstacle Memory in the Walking Cat

Published on: December 11, 2017

7.4K
Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
08:12

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control

Published on: September 11, 2019

10.3K
Sit-to-stand-and-walk from 120% Knee Height: A Novel Approach to Assess Dynamic Postural Control Independent of Lead-limb
08:24

Sit-to-stand-and-walk from 120% Knee Height: A Novel Approach to Assess Dynamic Postural Control Independent of Lead-limb

Published on: August 30, 2016

10.9K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Human Physiology
  • Motor Control

Background:

  • Standing still is often perceived as an automatic process requiring minimal cognitive input.
  • Previous research has not fully elucidated the role of the cerebral cortex in reactive postural control during quiet stance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate cortical involvement during reactive balance adjustments in humans.
  • To determine if higher-level brain processes contribute to maintaining stability during unexpected postural perturbations.

Main Methods:

  • Cortical activity was measured using electroencephalography (EEG).
  • EEG was time-locked to naturally occurring instability events during quiet standing.
  • Event-related potentials (ERPs), specifically the N1 component, were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • An evoked N1 potential was detected in cortical activity preceding the onset of balance reactions.
  • The amplitude and spectral power of this N1 potential increased with greater postural challenges.
  • Increased N1 activity correlated with a higher demand for reactive postural control.

Conclusions:

  • The cerebral cortex plays a role in reactive balance control during standing.
  • The N1 potential reflects anticipatory or reactive cortical processing for maintaining postural stability.
  • Cortical engagement increases with the difficulty of maintaining balance.