The Cerebral Cortex Chapter 2 Lecture 5 the

The Cerebral Cortex Chapter 2, Lecture 5 “…the mind is what the brain does. ” - David Myers

The Cerebral Cortex The 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 Cortex Each 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 Cortex The 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 Homunculus What we would look like if our bodies were in proportion with the amount of cortical space devoted to each body part:

The Frontal Cortex Consider the famous case study of Phineas Gage. And now another

Visual Function The functional MRI scan shows the visual cortex is active as the subject looks at faces. Courtesy of V. P. Clark, K. Keill, J. Maisog, S. Courtney, L. G. Ungerleider, and J. V. Haxby, National Institute of Mental Health

Auditory Function The functional MRI scan shows the auditory cortex is active in patients who hallucinate.

Association Areas More intelligent animals have increased “uncommitted” or association areas of the cortex.

The Brain’s Plasticity 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 most dramatic examples of brain plasticity are seen in people following hemispherectomies.

Homework Read p. 75 -81 “As we move up the ladder of animal life, the cerebral cortex expands, tight genetic controls relax, and the organism’s adaptability increases. ” - David Myers