SENSORY CORTEX

Dr. (Mrs.) H. O. Jimoh-Abdulghaffaar

 OUTLINE
• INTRODUCTION
• LOCATION
• FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF THE PARIETAL LOBE
1. Somesthetic area I
2. Somesthetic area II
3. Somesthetic association area
• APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
 INTRODUCTION
• This refers to the primary sensory area of the
cerebral cortex.
 LOCATION
• It is located in the parietal lobe of the
cerebrum.
 Functional Areas of the Parietal Lobe
• The parietal lobe has three functional areas:
1. Somesthetic area I
2. Somesthetic area II
3. Somesthetic association area
Fig 1: Parts(lobes) of the cerebral cortex
Fig 3: Areas of the cortex
 Somesthetic area I
• It is otherwise called somatosensory area or
primary somesthetic area.
• Receives sensory fibers from thalamus via
parietal part of thalamic radiation.
• Parts:
a) Anterior
– Forms area 3
b) Posterior
– Forms areas 1 & 2
 Functions of Somesthetic area I
1. Perception (area 1) and integration (2 & 3) of
cutaneous and kinesthic sensations (touch,
pressure, pain and temperature).
2. Sends sensory feedback to the pre-motor area.
3. Movement of eye balls and head.
4. Discriminative functions:
a) Spatial recognition
b) Recognition of intensity of different stimuli
c) Recognition of similarities and differences between
the stimuli
Fig 3: Homonculus of sensory areas in cerebral
 Somesthetic area II
• Also known as secondary somesthetic area or
somatosensory area II.
• Receives sensory impulses from somesthetic
area I
 Functions of Somesthetic area II
• Exact role is unclear…
• Concerned with perception of sensation.
 Somesthetic Association Areas
• Parts:
a) Area 5
b) Area 7

• Functions:
1. Synthesis & deciphering deeper meanings of
sensations perceived by somesthetic area I.
2. Center for combined sensations e.g.
stereognosis.
 Sensory motor area
• Sensory area of cortex extends anteriorly into
motor area in frontal lobe.
• Function:
– Storage of timing and programming of various
sequential movements of complicated skilled
movements.
 Applied physiology
1. Somesthetic area I:
a) Electrical stimulation of: numbness and
tingling.
b) Lesion in sensory areas without thalamic
involvement: loss of discriminative functions.
c) Lesion with thalamic involvement: loss of
sensation in the opposite side of the body.
 Applied physiology cont’d
• Somesthetic association area:
– Astereognosis
– Amorphosynthesis

• Parietal lobe lesions:

– Contralateral disturbance of cutaneous sensations
– Disturbances in kinesthetic sensations
– Loss of tactile localization and discrimination