Chapter 14: Cerebral Cortex

What is the cerebrum and how is it structurally divided?

The cerebrum is divided into hemispheres.

What is the cerebral cortex and how thick is it?

A ½ inch layer of gray matter forming the outer layer of the cerebrum responsible for higher brain functions including conscious thought, sensory perception, motor control, and language.

What are the three functional areas of the cerebral cortex?

Primary motor pathways, primary sensory areas, and association areas.

What is the function of primary motor pathways?

Beginning of the efferent (motor) pathway.

What is the function of primary sensory areas?

End of the afferent (sensory) pathway.

What is the function of association areas?

Integration of sensory and motor information.

What does contralateral mean in cerebral function?

Each hemisphere controls sensory and motor functions of the opposite side of the body.

What is somatotopy?

Point-for-point correspondence between body areas and specific points on the cerebral cortex.

What is true about neurons controlling movement in somatotopy?

They do NOT intermingle between body regions.

What is lateralization in the brain?

Some neural functions or cognitive processes are more dominant in one hemisphere than the other.

What is internal white matter in the cerebrum?

White matter located beneath the cerebral cortex.

What are basal nuclei?

Islands of gray matter deep within white matter that plan and control conscious movements.

What is the corpus callosum and its function?

A structure that connects the left and right hemispheres physically and communicatively.

What are the four lobes of the cerebrum?

Frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes.

What is the function of the frontal lobe?

Speech and decision making.

What cortex is contained in the frontal lobe?

Motor cortex.

What is the function of the parietal lobe?

Taste, memory storage, and perception of stimuli.

What cortex is contained in the parietal lobe?

Sensory cortex.

What is the function of the temporal lobe?

Hearing, smell, memory, and emotion.

What is the function of the occipital lobe?

Visual processing and object recognition.

What are gyri?

Elevated ridges (peaks) of the brain.

What are sulci?

Shallow grooves (valleys) of the brain.

What are fissures?

Deeper grooves that separate large regions of the brain.

What is the function of the primary somatosensory cortex?

Main sensory area for touch, pain, temperature, and proprioception.

Where is the primary somatosensory cortex located?

Parietal lobe posterior to motor cortex.

What is the function of the primary visual cortex?

Receives visual input from retina.

Where is the primary visual cortex located?

Occipital lobe.

What is the function of the primary auditory cortex?

Interprets pitch, loudness, and sound location.

Where is the primary auditory cortex located?

Temporal lobe.

What is the function of the vestibular cortex?

Conscious awareness of balance.

Where is the vestibular cortex located?

Parietal lobe and tip of somatosensory cortex.

What is the function of the olfactory cortex?

Conscious awareness of odors and involvement in memory and emotion.

Where is the olfactory cortex located?

Temporal lobe.

What is the function of the primary gustatory cortex?

Perception of taste.

Where is the gustatory cortex located?

Parietal lobe.

What is the function of the visceral sensory cortex?

Conscious perception of visceral sensations (instinct, gut feelings).

Where is the visceral sensory cortex located?

Frontal lobe.

What is the function of Wernicke’s area?

Understanding and processing language (spoken and written comprehension).

Where is Wernicke’s area located?

Temporal lobe.

What is the function of the primary motor cortex?

One of the main areas controlling voluntary movement.

Where is the primary motor cortex located?

Back of frontal lobe.

What is the function of the premotor cortex?

Plans movements and sequences basic movements into complex tasks.

Where is the premotor cortex located?

Frontal lobe anterior to primary motor cortex.