Sensory areas

In cerebral cortex different areas measured by Brodmann divided into: Sensory areas & Motor areas

SENSORY AREAS

METHODS USED TO INVESTIGATE: 1) Evoked potential method: Electrical stimulation of different parts of body recording of action potentials from sensory cortex (area in front of central sulcus). If we apply electrical stimulus to right hand the part of sensory cortex from where we can record action potential is involved in control of sensation of that particular part.

2) Ablation method: If a particular part of sensory cortex is damaged & sensory loss in the body is noted that part of body is controlled by that particular part of sensory cortex.

3) Clinico-pathological study: Features of disease are studied & these features are related with findings on post-mortem examination.

Sensory areas:

Somatic sensory area 1 / S1 / Brodmann area 3,1,2. Somatic sensory area 2 / S2. Somesthetic association area / Brodmann area 5 & 7. Wernickes area / General inter-pretitive area / Sensory speech area / Brodmann area 22. Visual areas: Primary Visual area / Brodmann area 17. Visual association area / Secondary visual area / Brodmann area 18, 19. Angular gyrus / Brodmann area 39. Primary Auditory area / Brodmann area 41. Auditory association area / Secondary auditory area. Taste area / Brodmann area 43. Olfactory areas: Medial olfactory area. Lateral olfactory area.

Somatic sensory area 1 / S1 / Brodmann area 3,1,2.

Location: in post central gyrus. Also extends to medial surface of hemisphere into paracentral lobule. Type of cortex: granular type. In sensory cortex, neurons are arranged in vertical columns & each of these columns is specific to a specific stimulus & is specific for a particular part of the body. Contralateral & upside down representation. When representation parts of body are joined a figure of body is formed sensory homunculus. Sensory homunculus is mirror image of Motor homunculus.

The size of area of representation does not depend on anatomical size of body parts but depends on their functional importance. Parts of body which contain greater number of sensory receptors are represented by a larger area (lips, tongue, thumb, hands, fingers).

Functions of Somatic sensory area 1 / S1 / Brodmann area 3,1,2.

Receives impulses of all somatic sensations from ventro-basal complex of thalamus (which consist of VPL & VPM). Sensations received are: fine touch, tickle & itch, temperature, proprioception, vibration & pain. Concerned with perception of grades of intensity of stimulation. Involved in steriognosis (ability to identify shape & structure with eyes closed).

Damage to S1 area:

Most effected will be TOUCH & PROPRIOCEPTION, then TEMPERATURE & least effected is PAIN.

Recovery from lesion of S1:

First to recover is PAIN, Then TEMPERATURE, & finally FINE TOUCH & PROPRIOCEPTION.

Somatic sensory area 2 / S2.

Location: in superior wall of sylvian fissure or lateral fissure. Representation: here body parts are incompletely represented. Face is anterior while legs are posterior. Sensations received: this area receives pain impulses. Function: physiologically not so important.

Somesthetic association area / Brodmann area 5 & 7.

Location: behind S1 in posterior parietal lobe. Receives impulses from: Somatic sensory areas (S1, S2), Visual & Auditory areas. Function: involved in steriognosis. (stored memory is associated here for steriognosis).

Damage to Somesthetic association area / Brodmann area 5 & 7

Person can recognize only 1 side of the object, but not the other, if both hands are used with eyes closed. This is due to contralateral supply. If right side is damaged cannot identify the object touched with left hand. The patient forgets 1 side of the body to use for motor activity AMORPHOSYNTHESIS.

Wernickes area / General inter-pretitive area / Sensory speech area / Brodmann area 22.

Location: in posterior part of superior temporal gyrus. Receives impulses from: Somatic sensory areas (S1, S2), Visual & Auditory association areas.

Function of Wernickes area / General inter-pretitive area / Sensory speech area / Brodmann area 22.

concerned with high intellectual activity. Here spoken & written words are completely understood. Thoughts are formulated & what to be expressed is decided. Words are chosen to express the thoughts. Words are arranged into sentences & then From this area impulses go along arcuate faciculus BROCAS AREA / MOTOR SPEECH AREA. This area is highly developed in dominant hemisphere. Left hemisphere is usually dominant in right handed. In left handed, right is dominant & left too. (both are dominant)

Visual areas: Primary Visual area / Brodmann area 17.

Location: along calcarine fissure in occipital lobe. Impulses received: visual impulses are received along visual pathway.

Visual association area / Secondary visual area / Brodmann area 18, 19.

Location: superior & anterior to primary visual area.

Angular gyrus / Brodmann area 39

Location: posterior to Wernikes area. Function: interpretation of visual impulses.

Primary Auditory area / Brodmann area 41

Location: in superior temporal gyrus. Function: receives low frequency sounds anteriorly & high frequency sounds posteriorly. Unilateral lesion: partial deafness on both sides.

Auditory association area / Secondary auditory area.

Location: below & behind primary auditory area. Function: interpretation of voice.

Taste area / Brodmann area 43

Location: at inferior end of post central gyrus, in superior wall of sylvian fissure & adjoining portion of Insula.

Olfactory areas: Medial olfactory area.

Includes: septal nuclei & part of limbic system.. Location: anterior & superior to hypothalamus.

Lateral olfactory area.

Includes: Pyriform & pre-pyriform cortex & cortical portion of Amygdala.