Where is the main somatosensory area of the cortex?

It lies in the parietal lobe, in a strip running down the cortex immediately behind the motor area.

Where is the primary motor area of the cortex?

It lies in the frontal lobe, in a strip running down the cortex immediately in front of the somatosensory area.

Name the cortical areas dealing with sight and with hearing, and say where each lies.

The visual area lies in the occipital lobe at the back of the cerebrum and the auditory area lies in the temporal lobe at the side.

What is an association area?

An association area is a region of cortex that links sensory and motor areas, interpreting incoming information, comparing it with memory and deciding what response to make.

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Neurobiology and Behaviour: The Brain

Sensory and motor areas, the homunculus and language

3 things to know
Component 3

Overview

Sensory area of the cerebral cortex, motor area of the cerebral cortex and cortical areas dealing with sight and with hearing.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

What is a sensory area of the cerebral cortex?

Key term

What is a motor area of the cerebral cortex?

Key term

What decides how large a body part appears on the sensory homunculus?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is a sensory area of the cerebral cortex?
Model answer
A sensory area is a region of cortex that receives impulses arriving from receptors and interprets them as a sensation.
2
Where is the main somatosensory area of the cortex?
Model answer
It lies in the parietal lobe, in a strip running down the cortex immediately behind the motor area.
3
What is a motor area of the cerebral cortex?
Model answer
A motor area is a region of cortex from which impulses are sent out along motor neurones to skeletal muscles.
4
Where is the primary motor area of the cortex?
Model answer
It lies in the frontal lobe, in a strip running down the cortex immediately in front of the somatosensory area.
5
Name the cortical areas dealing with sight and with hearing, and say where each lies.
Model answer
The visual area lies in the occipital lobe at the back of the cerebrum and the auditory area lies in the temporal lobe at the side.
6
What is an association area?
Model answer
An association area is a region of cortex that links sensory and motor areas, interpreting incoming information, comparing it with memory and deciding what response to make.

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