ANAT 321 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Postcentral Gyrus, David Ragsdale, Somatosensory System

• School: McGill University
• Department: Anatomy and Cell Biology
• Course: ANAT 321
• Professor: David Ragsdale

Document Summary

The initial cortical processing of sensory information occurs in primary sensory areas, followed by higher order uni- and multimodal association cortical areas. Somatotopic organization is preserved all the way up to the level of primary somatosensory: remember: the left somatosensory cortex receives information from the contralateral cortex (post-central gyrus) side of the body. Higher order processing applies to the other functions of the brain: ex: visual zones, auditory function. For visual, somatosensory and auditory we have primary processing with secondary processing radiating out. Multimodal association cortices are involved in the most complex cognitive processes. This region is large in humans: dedicated to higher order cognitive functions. Complex decisions, planning sequences of events, etc. Use sensory info in decisions (ex: grabbing something) Cortical processing of sensory information follows 2 streams: dorsal stream (where) Using vision and somatosensory system to reach an object: ventral stream (what) Uses sensory information to create conscious perception and memory.