Brain cortical areas/neuroanatomy

Cortical Areas

The cerebral cortex is divided into four main lobes (frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital) and various cortical areas, each with distinct functions and characteristics.

Primary Cortical Areas
1. *Primary Motor Cortex (M1)*: Located in the precentral gyrus, responsible for executing voluntary movements.
2. *Primary Somatosensory Cortex (S1)*: Located in the postcentral gyrus, receives and interprets sensory information from the body.
3. *Primary Visual Cortex (V1)*: Located in the occipital lobe, receives and processes basic visual information.
4. *Primary Auditory Cortex (A1)*: Located in the transverse temporal gyrus, receives and processes basic auditory information.

Association Cortical Areas
1. *Premotor Cortex*: Located in the frontal lobe, involved in planning and coordinating movements.
2. *Prefrontal Cortex*: Located in the frontal lobe, responsible for executive functions, decision-making, and working memory.
3. *Parietal Association Cortex*: Located in the parietal lobe, involved in spatial awareness, attention, and memory.
4. *Temporal Association Cortex*: Located in the temporal lobe, involved in processing and interpreting sensory information.

Higher-Order Cortical Areas
1. *Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC)*: Involved in working memory, decision-making, and planning.
2. *Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex (VMPFC)*: Involved in emotion regulation, empathy, and social behavior.