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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,...

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 the...

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.

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...

Lobes of the Cerebrum

Lobes of the Cerebrum

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.

Diencephalon: Anatomical Regions

Diencephalon: Anatomical Regions

The diencephalon, etymologically translated as 'through brain,' plays an integral role as the conduit between the cerebrum and the vast extent of the nervous system. However, the olfactory system is an exception, as it interfaces directly with the cerebrum. The diencephalon, deeply ensconced beneath the cerebrum, primarily consists of three paired structures — the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithelamus. It also includes accessory structures such as the subthalamus, which houses the subthalamic...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Exploring Deep Space - Uncovering the Anatomy of Periventricular Structures to Reveal the Lateral Ventricles of the Human Brain

Exploring Deep Space - Uncovering the Anatomy of Periventricular Structures to Reveal the Lateral Ventricles of the Human Brain

Published on: October 22, 2017

Mapping the structural connections between the anterior cingulate cortex and the insula/ventrolateral prefrontal

Wei Tang^1,2, Javier Guaje³, Shreyas Fadnavis⁴

¹Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States.

Imaging Neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)

|May 29, 2026

Summary

Researchers improved diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) to map brain connections. This technique now accurately reconstructs pathways between the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and insula/ventral lateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC).

Keywords:

anterior cingulate cortex cross-species neuroanatomy dMRI insula salience network ventrolateral prefrontal cortex

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Published on: October 22, 2017

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

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Fiber Connections of the Supplementary Motor Area Revisited: Methodology of Fiber Dissection, DTI, and Three Dimensional Documentation

Fiber Connections of the Supplementary Motor Area Revisited: Methodology of Fiber Dissection, DTI, and Three Dimensional Documentation

Published on: May 23, 2017

Area of Science:

Neuroimaging
Neuroanatomy
White Matter Tractography

Background:

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), insula, and ventral lateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) are functionally interconnected.
The ACC and insula are key hubs of the salience network, involved in stimulus detection and inter-network communication.
ACC-vlPFC connections are crucial for inhibitory control, but their structural basis in humans is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the structural connections between the ACC and the insula/vlPFC in the human brain.
To overcome limitations of standard diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) in capturing these specific pathways.
To refine dMRI tractography methods for improved anatomical accuracy.

Main Methods:

Utilized nonhuman primate (NHP) dMRI to diagnose fiber orientation biases affecting ACC-insula/vlPFC streamline reconstruction.
Developed a reweighting approach to correct fiber orientation density functions based on individual variability.
Applied the corrected dMRI technique to human brain data.

Main Results:

Identified and corrected fiber orientation biases in deep white matter impacting ACC-insula/vlPFC pathway reconstruction.
Successfully reconstructed previously elusive ACC-insula/vlPFC pathways using the adjusted dMRI method.
Demonstrated the anatomical validity of functional relationships between these critical brain regions.

Conclusions:

The refined dMRI approach enables accurate mapping of ACC-insula/vlPFC structural connections.
This advancement provides crucial anatomical support for the functional roles of the salience network and inhibitory control circuits.
The study highlights the potential of technical dMRI adjustments for understanding complex human brain circuitry.