Cortical Areas
The cerebral cortex is divided into four main lobes (frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital) and various cortical areas, each with distinct functions and characteristics.
Primary Cortical Areas
1. *Primary Motor Cortex (M1)*: Located in the precentral gyrus, responsible for executing voluntary movements.
2. *Primary Somatosensory Cortex (S1)*: Located in the postcentral gyrus, receives and interprets sensory information from the body.
3. *Primary Visual Cortex (V1)*: Located in the occipital lobe, receives and processes basic visual information.
4. *Primary Auditory Cortex (A1)*: Located in the transverse temporal gyrus, receives and processes basic auditory information.
Association Cortical Areas
1. *Premotor Cortex*: Located in the frontal lobe, involved in planning and coordinating movements.
2. *Prefrontal Cortex*: Located in the frontal lobe, responsible for executive functions, decision-making, and working memory.
3. *Parietal Association Cortex*: Located in the parietal lobe, involved in spatial awareness, attention, and memory.
4. *Temporal Association Cortex*: Located in the temporal lobe, involved in processing and interpreting sensory information.
Higher-Order Cortical Areas
1. *Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC)*: Involved in working memory, decision-making, and planning.
2. *Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex (VMPFC)*: Involved in emotion regulation, empathy, and social behavior.
