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Related Concept Videos

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex01:23

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

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

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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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Action Potential01:14

Action Potential

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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...
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Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

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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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Anatomy of the Brain: Major Regions01:20

Anatomy of the Brain: Major Regions

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The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It consists of four main parts: the cerebrum, diencephalon, cerebellum, and brainstem.
The cerebrum is the largest section of the brain and divides into left and right hemispheres, separated by a deep fissure. The cerebral outer layer of grey matter — the cerebral cortex — comprises elevations called gyri and shallow groves called sulci. The inner portion of white matter includes long nerve fibers known as axons, which connect...
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Propagation of Action Potentials01:23

Propagation of Action Potentials

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The propagation of an action potential refers to the process by which a nerve impulse, or "action potential," travels along a neuron.
Neurons (nerve cells) have a resting membrane potential, with a slightly negative charge inside compared to outside. This is maintained by ion channels, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels, which control the flow of ions. When a stimulus, like a touch or a signal from another neuron, triggers the neuron, sodium channels open, allowing sodium ions to...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 14, 2026

Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy of the Sensory and Motor Brain Regions with Simultaneous Kinematic and EMG Monitoring During Motor Tasks
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Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy of the Sensory and Motor Brain Regions with Simultaneous Kinematic and EMG Monitoring During Motor Tasks

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Neural coding within human brain areas involved in actions.

Jason P Gallivan1, Jody C Culham2

  • 1Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada; Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.

Current Opinion in Neurobiology
|April 16, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Human brain imaging reveals that sensorimotor control involves a wider network of areas than previously thought. Newer techniques show action information is distributed across the brain, supporting goal-directed behavior.

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Last Updated: Apr 14, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Human Brain Imaging

Background:

  • Early human functional MRI (fMRI) studies on sensorimotor control were guided by non-human primate (NHP) research.
  • Previous research focused on specialized brain areas for specific actions like reaching and grasping.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in human fMRI analysis techniques.
  • To explore novel research questions in human sensorimotor control beyond traditional functional mapping.
  • To understand the neural architecture supporting human goal-directed behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent human functional MRI (fMRI) studies.
  • Application of advanced, sensitive analysis techniques in neuroimaging.
  • Investigation of neural circuits involved in sensorimotor control.

Main Results:

  • Action-related information is encoded across a broader range of brain regions than previously identified.
  • New insights into the distributed and hierarchical neural architecture of human behavior.
  • Demonstration of capabilities of newer, sensitive fMRI analysis techniques.

Conclusions:

  • Human sensorimotor control relies on a more distributed neural network than earlier studies suggested.
  • Advanced fMRI techniques provide deeper understanding of the human brain's complex architecture.
  • Future research can explore novel questions in human neuroscience using these advanced methods.