Brain Anatomy and Functional Cortical Areas

Vocabulary flashcards covering the functional areas of the cerebral cortex, their sensory and motor specializations, and key anatomical landmarks based on lecture notes.

Somesthetic association area

A brain area that interprets and integrates touch, pressure, temperature, and spatial information; acts as a processor rather than a receiver, stores past sensory experiences, and helps guide motor responses and problem solving based on the physical environment.

Taste Area (Gustatory cortex)

The cortical region that perceives basic tastes, processes and identifies the five fundamental taste qualities (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and savory), measures stimulus strength, integrates taste with scent signals to experience flavor, and signals whether food is pleasurable or dangerous.

Five fundamental taste qualities

Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and savory; the primary taste categories identified and processed by the gustatory cortex.

Visual association area

An area of the brain that interprets complex visual information received from the primary visual cortex, recognizes patterns in shapes and objects, guides eye movements, and analyzes complex colors.

Primary motor cortex (M1)

The region responsible for initiating and controlling fine, discrete, and coordinated skeletal muscle movements by sending direct motor commands, reorganizing neural circuits through practice to build muscle memory, and adjusting force, speed, and trajectory based on feedback.

Central sulcus

A major groove that separates parts of the brain, specifically separating the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe, and separating the precentral gyrus in front from the postcentral gyrus.

Primary Somesthetic cortex (S1)

A sensory receiver that processes signals of touch, pressure, temperature, pain, and body position; identifies objects by touch, guides smooth coordinated movements with the motor cortex, and integrates touch with sight and auditory data to construct a map of the surroundings.

Prefrontal area (PFC)

Referred to as the 'control room'; manages short-term memory, goals, switching between different tasks, and problem solving; acts as a judge for decisions, governs self-control, and shapes the sense of self and morality.

Premotor Area (PMA)

A motor area that relies on external clues, prepares posture, and dictates the movement of proximal muscles.

Proximal muscles

The muscles of the shoulders, hips, and trunk, whose movements are dictated by the premotor area (PMA).