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The Cerebral The Cerebral CortexCortex
Chapter 2, Lecture 5Chapter 2, Lecture 5
“…the mind is what the brain does.”- David Myers
The Cerebral CortexThe intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells
that covers the cerebral hemispheres. It is the body’s ultimate control and information processing center.
Structure of the CortexEach brain hemisphere
is divided into four lobes that are separated by
prominent fissures. These lobes are the
frontal lobe (forehead), parietal
lobe (top to rear head), occipital lobe
(back head) and temporal lobe (side of
head).Watch this video clip about mapping
brain functions in the cerebral cortex.
Functions of the CortexThe Motor Cortex is the area at the rear of the frontal lobes that control voluntary movements. The Sensory Cortex (parietal cortex) receives
information from skin surface and sense organs.
The Sensory HomunculusWhat we would look like if our bodies were inproportion with the amount of cortical space devotedto each body part:
The Frontal Cortex
Phineas Gage reconsideredMyers: Psychology, Ninth EditionCopyright © 2010 by Worth Publishers
Consider the famous case
study of Phineas Gage.
And now another similar case
study…
Visual Function
The functional MRI scan shows the visual cortex is active as the subject looks at faces.
Courtesy of V
.P. C
lark, K
. Keill, J. M
a. M
aisog, S. Courtney,
L.G
. Ungerleider, and
J.V. H
axby, National
Institute of Mental
Health
Auditory Function
The functional MRI scan shows the
auditory cortex is active in patients who
hallucinate.
More intelligent animals have increased “uncommitted” or association areas of the
cortex.
Association Areas
The brain is sculpted by our genes but also by our experiences.
Plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to modify itself after some types of injury or
illness.
The Brain’s Plasticity
The most dramatic examples of brain plasticity are seen in people following
hemispherectomies.
HomeworkRead p.75-81
“As we move up the ladder of animal life, thecerebral cortex expands, tight genetic controlsrelax, and the organism’s adaptability increases.”
- David Myers