The association cortex is a part of the cerebral cortex that performs complex cognitive functions.[1][2] Unlike primary sensory or motor areas, which process specific sensory inputs or motor outputs, the association cortex integrates information from various sources to support higher-order cognitive processes. This integration allows for complex functions such as perception, language, and thought. Therefore, species that possess large amounts of association cortex tend to show advanced reasoning skills.[3]

The association cortex is generally divided into unimodal and heteromodal (or polymodal) areas, which process either a single sensory modality or multiple modalities, respectively.

Types

Examples in humans

References

  1. ^ Armstrong, R. A. (1 January 2021). "Chapter 1 - The structure of the human brain as revealed in six histological sections". Diagnosis, Management and Modeling of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Academic Press: 3–11. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-817988-8.00001-4. ISBN 978-0-12-817988-8. S2CID 236679910. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  2. ^ Betts, J Gordon; Desaix, Peter; Johnson, Eddie; Johnson, Jody E; Korol, Oksana; Kruse, Dean; Poe, Brandon; Wise, James; Womble, Mark D; Young, Kelly A (May 14, 2023). Anatomy & Physiology. Houston: OpenStax CNX. 16.2 The mental status exam. ISBN 978-1-947172-04-3.
  3. ^ Krawczyk, Daniel C. (1 January 2018). "Chapter 3 - The Neuroscience of Reasoning". Reasoning. Academic Press: 41–69. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-809285-9.00003-X. ISBN 978-0-12-809285-9. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  4. ^ Mendoza, John E. (2011). "Unimodal Cortex". Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer. p. 2578. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_810. ISBN 978-0-387-79948-3. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  5. ^ Buchanan, Robert W.; Francis, Alan; Arango, Celso; Miller, Karl; Lefkowitz, David M.; McMahon, Robert P.; Barta, Patrick E.; Pearlson, Godfrey D. (February 2004). "Morphometric Assessment of the Heteromodal Association Cortex in Schizophrenia". American Journal of Psychiatry. 161 (2): 322–331. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.161.2.322. ISSN 0002-953X. PMID 14754782. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  6. ^ Whitlock, Jonathan R. (2017-07-24). "Posterior parietal cortex". Current Biology. 27 (14): R691–R695. Bibcode:2017CBio...27.R691W. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.007. hdl:11250/2465681. ISSN 1879-0445. PMID 28743011.
  7. ^ "Higher Cortical Functions: Association and Executive Processing (Section 4, Chapter 9) Neuroscience Online: An Electronic Textbook for the Neurosciences | Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy - The University of Texas Medical School at Houston". nba.uth.tmc.edu. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
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