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

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

4.1K
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....
4.1K
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex01:24

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

607
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...
607
Direct Motor Pathways01:11

Direct Motor Pathways

2.2K
The direct motor pathways, also known as the pyramidal tracts, are a group of neural pathways that originate in the brain and descend through the spinal cord. They control the voluntary movement of the body. There are two major direct motor pathways: the corticospinal and the corticobulbar tracts.
The corticospinal tract is responsible for the voluntary movement of the limbs and trunk. It originates in the cerebral cortex of the brain and descends through the cerebrum's internal capsule and...
2.2K
Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory01:14

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

535
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...
535
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

5.7K
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,...
5.7K
Somatosensation01:33

Somatosensation

37.0K
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.
37.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Alopecia Neoplastica from Breast Carcinoma: When Hair Loss Hides Something Else.

Acta medica portuguesa·2026
Same author

Dermal lipomatous metaplasia in chronic plaque psoriasis: A clinicopathological case report.

Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG·2026
Same author

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Massive Pulmonary Hemorrhage Secondary to Arteriovenous Malformation.

Cureus·2026
Same author

Advancing Mobile Neuroscience: A Novel Wearable Backpack for Multi-Sensor Research in Urban Environments.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)·2025
Same author

Unusual Presentation of Kaposi Sarcoma Mimicking Pyogenic Granuloma in an Immunocompetent Patient.

Acta medica portuguesa·2025
Same author

Palisaded Neutrophilic Granulomatous Dermatitis as the Initial Manifestation of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Acta medica portuguesa·2025
Same journal

Synaptic micromechanics and brain softening as a mechanobiological hypothesis for Alzheimer's disease.

Frontiers in neuroscience·2026
Same journal

The relationship between healthy sleep patterns and the risk of scoliosis: a large prospective cohort study.

Frontiers in neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Dynamic functional reorganization in post-stroke aphasia: a state-of-the-art fMRI review from disease evolution to intervention.

Frontiers in neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Correction: Case Report: A possible novel adult-onset, progressive MAO-A hypofunction.

Frontiers in neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Respiratory modulation of neurophysiology and symptoms in athletes with sports-related concussion: a randomized crossover trial.

Frontiers in neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Impact of C-reactive protein-triglyceride-glucose and systemic immune-inflammation indices on obstructive sleep apnea in older adults with depression.

Frontiers in neuroscience·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2025

Stimulating the Lip Motor Cortex with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
12:09

Stimulating the Lip Motor Cortex with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Published on: June 14, 2014

19.1K

A robust role for motor cortex.

Gonçalo Lopes1,2,3, Joana Nogueira1,2,3, George Dimitriadis1,2

  • 1Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal.

Frontiers in Neuroscience
|February 27, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The motor cortex enhances the brain

Keywords:
behaviorbrain lesionelectrocorticography (ECoG)motor cortexrodentsteleology

More Related Videos

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation
12:33

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation

Published on: December 31, 2013

9.0K
Measuring and Manipulating Functionally Specific Neural Pathways in the Human Motor System with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
09:52

Measuring and Manipulating Functionally Specific Neural Pathways in the Human Motor System with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Published on: February 23, 2020

9.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 8, 2025

Stimulating the Lip Motor Cortex with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
12:09

Stimulating the Lip Motor Cortex with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Published on: June 14, 2014

19.1K
Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation
12:33

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation

Published on: December 31, 2013

9.0K
Measuring and Manipulating Functionally Specific Neural Pathways in the Human Motor System with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
09:52

Measuring and Manipulating Functionally Specific Neural Pathways in the Human Motor System with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Published on: February 23, 2020

9.3K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • The precise function of the motor cortex in non-primate mammals is debated.
  • Studies show rats retain adaptive behaviors after motor cortex removal, contradicting its presumed role in movement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the motor cortex's role in adapting to unexpected environmental changes.
  • To challenge existing models of motor control in mammals.

Main Methods:

  • A novel behavioral assay was developed involving a dynamic obstacle course.
  • Rats with motor cortical lesions were tested on their ability to navigate unexpected events, such as obstacle collapse.
  • Performance was evaluated using motor and cognitive metrics over repeated trials.

Main Results:

  • Rats with motor cortical lesions exhibited significant impairments when faced with unexpected obstacle collapse.
  • No significant deficits were observed in motor or cognitive performance during repeated trials in predictable conditions.
  • This suggests a specific role for the motor cortex in handling novelty and rapid adaptation.

Conclusions:

  • The motor cortex extends the robustness of sub-cortical movement systems, particularly in unexpected situations.
  • It facilitates rapid motor responses that are contextually adapted to environmental changes.
  • This finding reframes the understanding of motor cortex function beyond simple motor execution.