Association area

Association area is a term used in neuroscience and psychology to refer to parts of the brain that are involved in integrating information from various parts of the brain. These areas are not dedicated to a specific sensory or motor function, but instead, they integrate input from different regions of the cerebral cortex to form a coherent, combined perception of the world.

Overview

Association areas are found in all four lobes of the brain: the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and occipital lobe. They are involved in higher cognitive functions such as learning, decision making, and complex behaviors. These areas are critical for the integration of sensory and motor information and are responsible for many aspects of perception and cognition.

Function

The primary function of the association areas is to combine information from different sensory modalities to create a comprehensive perception of the world. For example, the association area in the occipital lobe, known as the visual association area, integrates visual information with other sensory data to help us understand what we are seeing. Similarly, the auditory association area in the temporal lobe integrates auditory information with other sensory data to help us understand what we are hearing.

Clinical significance

Damage to the association areas can lead to a variety of neurological and psychological disorders. For example, damage to the frontal association area can result in difficulties with planning and decision making, while damage to the parietal association area can lead to difficulties with spatial awareness and attention.

See also

• Brodmann area
• Cerebral cortex
• Neuroanatomy
• Neuropsychology