Brodmann area 39

Brodmann area 39 is a region of the cerebral cortex in the human brain. This area is also known as angular area 39 (H). It is a subdivision of the cytoarchitecturally defined parietal region of cerebral cortex. In the human, it is located primarily in the portions of the parietal lobe, the occipital lobe and the temporal lobe.

Brodmann area 39 shown in red

Anatomy

Brodmann area 39 is bounded approximately by the superior temporal sulcus (rostrally), the intralimbic gyrus (caudally), the brachium of superior colliculus and superior parietal lobule (dorsally), and the inferior parietal lobule (ventrally).

Function

The functions of Brodmann area 39 are diverse and not fully understood. It is involved in the processing of language, attention, spatial cognition, and the perception of the body's own state, known as proprioception. It is also thought to play a role in the theory of mind, the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others.

Clinical significance

Damage to Brodmann area 39 can result in Gerstmann syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by agraphia, acalculia, finger agnosia, and left-right disorientation. It can also lead to hemispatial neglect, a condition in which an individual is unable to attend or respond to stimuli in the opposite field of vision.

See also

• Brodmann area
• List of regions in the human brain