This lesson explores how the cerebral cortex turns sensory information and goals into planned movements. Motor control matters not only for moving muscles, but also for posture, speech, attention, and purposeful behavior.
Sensory information is processed through primary sensory areas, associative areas, and multimodal integration areas. This processing can contribute to memory, but it can also help initiate a response. Motor planning generally involves different cortical regions from those that first process sensory input.
All flashcards
What are executive functions?
Cognitive processes, supported in large part by the prefrontal cortex, that help organize goal-directed behavior. They include planning, working memory, attention, and inhibiting distractions.
What does the premotor cortex contribute to movement?
It helps prepare and control movements, including the use of core muscles to maintain posture during movement.
What is the supplemental motor area's role?
It helps plan and coordinate movements, especially learned sequences, and is active in preparation before movement begins.
What is the motor homunculus?
A topographical map of the body in the primary motor cortex. Its proportions reflect the amount of cortical control devoted to body regions, not their physical size.
What does Broca's area control?
It contributes to the motor control of structures used to produce speech. Damage can impair speech production while leaving comprehension relatively intact.
Quiz questions
Which lobe contains most of the cortical areas involved in motor functions?Answer: The frontal lobe.
What is a central role of the prefrontal cortex?Answer: Supporting executive processes that organize goal-directed behavior.
Which secondary motor area is especially associated with learned sequential movements?Answer: The supplemental motor area.
A person understands speech but has difficulty producing it after cortical damage. Which region is most likely affected?Answer: Broca's area.
Why do the fingers and lower face occupy relatively large areas of the motor homunculus?Answer: They require fine, agile movements and have extensive motor representation.
Based on Anatomy and Physiology 2e by J. Gordon Betts, Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Eddie Johnson, Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Oksana Korol, Jody E. Johnson, Mark Womble, Peter DeSaix (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.