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Related Concept Videos

Lobes of the Cerebrum01:22

Lobes of the Cerebrum

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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....
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Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory01:14

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

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

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

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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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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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Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview I01:26

Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview I

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The main and largest component of the human brain is the cerebrum. The cerebrum consists of two main parts: the cerebral cortex, an outer layer with wrinkles or folds known as gyri and shallow grooves called sulci, and a deeper region beneath it. The cerebrum divides into two distinct hemispheres and contains five different lobes: the frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, and insula. The central sulcus separates the frontal and parietal lobes and two functionally important gyri — the...
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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Conducting Concurrent Electroencephalography and Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Recordings with a Flanker Task
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Conducting Concurrent Electroencephalography and Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Recordings with a Flanker Task

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What constitutes the prefrontal cortex?

Marie Carlén1

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden, and Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden. marie.carlen@ki.se.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 28, 2017
PubMed
Summary

The human prefrontal cortex, unique in size and function, drives complex behaviors. Further research is needed to definitively define its structure and role across species, despite its increasing use in neuroscience.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Comparative Anatomy

Background:

  • The prefrontal cortex (PFC) has expanded significantly during evolution, reaching its largest relative size in humans (30% of cortical area).
  • This expansion is linked to phylogenetic differentiation, suggesting unique qualitative and functional properties of the human PFC.
  • Current neuroscience research increasingly utilizes mice to study the PFC, aiming to understand its role in complex behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address the lack of a conclusive definition for the prefrontal cortex.
  • To investigate the unresolved questions regarding the structure and function of the PFC across different species.
  • To highlight the need for renewed focus on understanding the fundamental nature and functions of the prefrontal cortex.

Main Methods:

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Correlating Behavioral Responses to fMRI Signals from Human Prefrontal Cortex: Examining Cognitive Processes Using Task Analysis
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Correlating Behavioral Responses to fMRI Signals from Human Prefrontal Cortex: Examining Cognitive Processes Using Task Analysis
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  • Comparative analysis of prefrontal cortex evolution and size across species.
  • Review of existing literature on prefrontal cortex structure and function.
  • Examination of the utility of mouse models in prefrontal cortex research.

Main Results:

  • The human prefrontal cortex is disproportionately large and phylogenetically distinct.
  • Significant gaps exist in the conclusive definition and cross-species understanding of the prefrontal cortex.
  • The functional and structural uniqueness of the human PFC remains an active area of investigation.

Conclusions:

  • The prefrontal cortex, particularly in humans, possesses unique characteristics that warrant further in-depth study.
  • Current research models, while valuable, may not fully capture the complexities of the human prefrontal cortex.
  • A clearer, universally accepted definition and functional understanding of the prefrontal cortex across species is critically needed.