Association cortex

Association Cortex

The association cortex is a part of the cerebral cortex that is involved in integrating sensory and motor information. It is responsible for complex cognitive functions such as language, thought, and memory.

Anatomy

The association cortex is found in all lobes of the cerebral hemispheres, including the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and occipital lobe. It is divided into unimodal and heteromodal areas. Unimodal areas are involved in processing one type of sensory input, while heteromodal areas integrate information from multiple sensory modalities.

Function

The primary function of the association cortex is to combine information from different sensory and motor areas of the brain to create a comprehensive perception of the world. This integration of information allows for complex cognitive functions such as language comprehension, problem-solving, and memory formation.

In the frontal lobe, the association cortex is involved in planning and executing movements, as well as in higher cognitive functions such as decision-making and self-awareness. In the parietal lobe, it integrates sensory information from different modalities to create a coherent perception of the world. In the temporal lobe, it is involved in auditory and visual processing, as well as in memory and emotion. In the occipital lobe, it plays a role in visual perception and processing.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the association cortex can result in a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. For example, damage to the frontal association cortex can lead to aphasia, a disorder characterized by difficulties in language comprehension and production. Damage to the parietal association cortex can result in agnosia, a disorder characterized by difficulties in recognizing objects, people, or sounds. Damage to the temporal association cortex can lead to memory disorders, while damage to the occipital association cortex can result in visual processing disorders.

See Also

• Cerebral cortex
• Frontal lobe
• Parietal lobe
• Temporal lobe
• Occipital lobe