Functional Organization of Somatic Areas of the Cerebral Cortex

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter determines the boundaries of cortical somatic areas, which are of value in studying the role of these areas in neurological and behavioral functions. Somatic areas consist of at least four distinguishable, somatotopically-organized regions. Those regions include (1) somatic sensory-motor area I ( SmI) for the postcentral gyrus and its homologs in nonprimate forms, (2) somatic sensory-motor area II ( SmII) for the second sensory area, (3) somatic motor-sensory area I (MsI) for the precentral motor area, and (4) somatic motor-sensory area II ( MsII) for the supplementary motor area. Each of them appears to be concerned with both sensory and motor functions. The investigation of the functional mechanisms of these somatic areas is one of the main problems in neurophysiology. Researchers have proceeded on the supposition that if the modification of the patterns of neural activity entering a somatic area occurring across intracortical synaptic relays, and the spatial and temporal patterns going out of the region, can be determined, the researchers will be able to reconstruct a better way in which the particular cortical region operates. A self-regulating feedback circuit has been established because somatic areas can act back on the cerebellar system.