BRAIN

Functional Areas of the Cerebral Cortex

Functional Areas of the Cerebral Cortex
•The main areas of the cerebrum associated with sensory
perception and voluntary motor activity are:
1. Motor Areas
a. Precentral or Motor Area

• Lies in the frontal lobe immediately anterior to the

central sulcus.
• The cell bodies here initiate the contraction of skeletal
muscles.
• The nerve fibres pass downwards through the internal
capsule to the medulla oblongata where they cross to
the opposite side and then descend in the spinal cord.
• At appropriate level in the spinal cord, the nerve
impulse crosses a synapse to stimulate a second
neurone which will terminate at the muscle.
• The crossing of these nerve fibres at medulla
oblongata known as decussation implies that motor
area of the right cerebral hemisphere controls
voluntary muscle movement on the left side of the
body and vice versa.
• The neurone with its cell body in the cerebrum is
the upper motor neurone, while the other neurone
with its cell body in the spinal cord is the lower
motor neurone.
• Damage to either of these neurones may result to
paralysis.
• In the motor area of the cerebrum, the body is
represented upside down ie the cells nearest the
vertex control the feet, the ones in the lowest part
control the head, face, neck.
b. Premotor Area
• Lies in the frontal lobe immediately anterior to the
motor area.
• It is thought to control the motor area by ensuring
an orderly series of movements. eg in tying a shoe
lace or writing, many muscles contract but the
movement must be coordinated and carried out in a
particular sequence.
c. Motor Speech Area (Broca’s Area)
• Located in one frontal lobe just superior to the
lateral sulcus.
• It is dominant in the left hemisphere in right-handed
persons and vice versa.
• It controls the movements necessary for speech.
d. Frontal Area
• Extends anteriorly from premotor area to include the
remainder of the frontal lobe.
• This area is large and more highly developed in
humans.
• It is involved in motivation and regulation of
emotional behavior and mood.
2. Sensory Areas
a. Post central (Sensory) Area
• This is the area behind the central sulcus.
• It is here that sensations of pain, temperature,
pressure and touch, knowledge of muscular
movement and the position of joints are perceived.
• The sensory area of the right hemisphere receives
impulses form the left side of the body and vice
versa.
b. The Parietal Area
• Lies behind the postcentral area and includes the
greater part of the parietal lobe.
• It is associated with obtaining and retaining
accurate knowledge of objects.
• Therefore, objects can be recognized even by touch
alone because of the knowledge from past
experience (memory) retained in this area.
c. Sensory Speech Area (Wernicke’s area)
• Situated in the lower part of the parietal lobe and
extends into the temporal lobe.
• Spoken words are perceived here and it is
dominant in the left hemisphere in right-handed
persons and vice versa.
d. Auditory Area
• This lies immediately below the lateral sulcus
within the temporal lobe. This area receives and
interprets impulses from the inner ear by the
cochlear branch of the 8th cranial nerves.
e. Olfactory Area
•This lies deep within the temporal lobe. Impulses
from the nose through the olfactory nerves are
received and interpreted here.
f. Taste Area
• This is though to lie just above the lateral sulcus
deep in the sensory area. Impulses form the taste
buds in tongue are perceived as taste.
g. Visual Area
• This lies behind the parieto-occipital sulcus and
includes the greater part of the occipital lobe.
Impulses from the eye through the optic nerves are
received and interpreted as visual impressions here
Basal Ganglia (Nuclei)
• A group of functionally related nuclei found in the
brain.
• Two primary ones are corpus striatum and
substantia nigra located in the midbrain.
• They act as relay stations and are connected to the
cerebral cortex.
Basal Ganglia (Nuclei)

• They play important role in

posture, planning and
coordinating motor
movements.
• Substantia nigra produces a
neurotransmitter called
dopamine to inhibit the
activity of the corpus
striatum.
• The major effect of the
basal nuclei is to decrease
muscle tone and inhibit
Assignment

• Write a note on the functions of basal nuclei

Basal Ganglia (Nuclei)

• In decreased basal
nuclei functions there is
increased muscle tone,
exaggerated
uncontrolled
movements when a
person is trying to hold
still eg Parkinson’s
disease