Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

The cerebral cortex has three functional areas — the motor, sensory, and association areas.

The motor areas, located in the frontal lobe, control voluntary movements.

The premotor cortex, located anterior to the precentral gyrus, and the primary motor cortex, situated in the precentral gyrus, collectively control all skeletal muscle movements.

A part of the premotor cortex called Broca's area, present close to the lateral sulcus, controls muscles involved in speech.

The central sulcus largely separates the motor areas from the sensory areas that are present in the posterior part of the cerebrum.

The primary somatosensory cortex, located in the postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe, is involved in spatial discrimination — the ability to identify a specific body region being stimulated.

The occipital lobe contains the primary visual cortex, and the temporal lobe houses the primary auditory and olfactory cortex. The primary gustatory cortex is present in the insula.

Association areas coordinate motor and sensory information and allow interpretation of complex functions, such as memory, emotions, and intelligence.