Psychology2016

(Kiana) #1

80 CHAPTER 2


Buccino et al., 2004; Iacoboni et al., 1999). However, single-cell and multicell recordings
in humans have demonstrated that neurons with mirroring functions are found not only
in motor regions but also in parts of the brain involved in vision and memory, suggesting
such neurons provide much more information than previously thought about our own
actions as compared to the actions of others (Mukamel et al., 2010). These findings may
have particular relevance for better understanding or treating specific clinical conditions
that are believed to involve a faulty mirror system in the brain, such as autism (Oberman
& Ramachandran, 2007; Rizzolatti et al., 2009). to Learning Objective 8.7.

The Association Areas of the Cortex


2.13 Name the parts of the cortex that are responsible for higher forms of
thought, such as language.

You’ve mentioned association cortex a few times. Do the other
lobes of the brain contain association cortex as well?

Association areas are made up of neurons in the cortex that are devoted to making con-
nections between the sensory information coming into the brain and stored memories,
images, and knowledge. In other words, association areas help people make sense of the
incoming sensory input. Although association areas in the occipital and temporal lobes

Figure 2.15 The Motor and Somatosensory Cortex
The motor cortex in the frontal lobe controls the voluntary muscles of the body. Cells at the top of the motor
cortex control muscles at the bottom of the body, whereas cells at the bottom of the motor cortex control
muscles at the top of the body. Body parts are drawn larger or smaller according to the number of cortical
cells devoted to that body part. For example, the hand has many small muscles and requires a larger area of
cortical cells to control it. The somatosensory cortex, located in the parietal lobe just behind the motor cortex,
is organized in much the same manner and receives information about the sense of touch and body position.

As this boy imitates the motions his father
goes through while shaving, certain areas of
his brain are more active than others, areas
that control the motions of shaving. But
even if the boy were only watching his father,
those same neural areas would be active—
the neurons in the boy’s brain would mirror
the actions of the father he is observing.


association areas
areas within each lobe of the cortex
responsible for the coordination and
interpretation of information, as well
as higher mental processing.


ArmShoulderTrunkHip

Knee

Toes

Fingers Hand WElbowrist
Thumb

Neck
Brow
Eye
Face
Lips

Jaw
Tongue
Swallowing

Motor cortex Somatosensory cortex

Genitals

Leg

ArmHeadNeckTrunkHip
ForearmElbow
FingersHand
Thumb

NoseEye
Face
Lips

Teeth
Gums
Jaw
Tongue
Intra-abdominalPharynx

central sulcus
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