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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....

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...

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,...

Cerebral Hemispheres

Cerebral Hemispheres

The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...

Parallel Processing

Parallel Processing

The brain processes sensory information rapidly due to parallel processing, which involves sending data across multiple neural pathways at the same time. This method allows the brain to manage various sensory qualities, such as shapes, colors, movements, and locations, all concurrently. For instance, when observing a forest landscape, the brain simultaneously processes the movement of leaves, the shapes of trees, the depth between them, and the various shades of green. This enables a quick and...

Neural Circuits

Neural Circuits

Neural circuits and neuronal pools are two of the main structures found in the nervous system. Neural circuits are networks of neurons that work together to carry out a specific task or process. They consist of interconnected neurons and glial cells, which provide structural and metabolic support.
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 17, 2025

Multi-layer Cortical Ca2+ Imaging in Freely Moving Mice with Prism Probes and Miniaturized Fluorescence Microscopy

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Published on: June 13, 2017

Cell types implement multiple coding schemes in distinct prefrontal cortex areas during goal-directed behavior.

Francesco Ceccarelli¹, Lorenzo Ferrucci², Fabrizio Londei¹

¹Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy; Behavioral Neuroscience PhD Program, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.

Progress in Neurobiology

|July 3, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Prefrontal cortex microcircuits use distinct cell types for working memory and choice monitoring. Pyramidal neurons exhibit dynamic coding, especially during monitoring, revealing complex neural population dynamics.

Keywords:

Cell types Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex Frontopolar cortex Monitoring Orbitofrontal cortex Working memory

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Last Updated: Sep 17, 2025

Multi-layer Cortical Ca2+ Imaging in Freely Moving Mice with Prism Probes and Miniaturized Fluorescence Microscopy

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Published on: June 13, 2017

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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

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience
Systems Neuroscience

Background:

Goal-directed behavior depends on prefrontal cortex (PF) microcircuits for working memory (WM) and choice monitoring.
Cellular mechanisms for WM and choice monitoring in the PF are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate how distinct cell types in the prefrontal cortex represent choice.
Differentiate between static and dynamic coding schemes in dorsolateral (PFdl), orbital (PFo), and frontopolar (PFp) areas.

Main Methods:

Examined coding magnitude and temporal coding schemes in putative interneurons and pyramidal neurons.
Utilized a Cued Strategy task in two macaques.
Analyzed neural activity across different prefrontal cortex subregions.

Main Results:

Putative interneurons showed higher coding magnitude and dynamic coding across all PF areas compared to pyramidal neurons.
Pyramidal neurons displayed heterogeneous coding; in PFdl, it shifted from static to dynamic from WM to monitoring.
PFo exhibited dynamic coding, while PFp maintained static coding during monitoring.

Conclusions:

Prefrontal cortex microcircuits exhibit rich population dynamics governed by pyramidal neurons.
Distinct cell types and PF subregions contribute differently to working memory and choice monitoring.
Findings advance understanding of the neural basis of complex cognitive behaviors.