MATH 190 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Premotor Cortex, Brainstem, Axon Terminal
Document Summary
Balance and stable posture must also be taken into account. Dorsal stream > prefrontal cortex (plans) > premotor cortex (organizes movement sequences) > motor cortex (m) (executes specific movements) = m1 (transfers impulses organized in other brain areas). M1: somatotopic representation of the different body parts with the leg area close to the midline and the head and face area located laterally. Contralateral topographic (left m1 = right side of body, right m1 = left side): this is called homunculus (any topographical representation of the body by a neural area) This map is distorted (face and hand larger than leg) The map is plastic (we have the ability to learn new skills/ recover from brain injury) As movement is more practiced it is represented more extensively in m1. Force is encoded, the more force (needed) the higher the neural response. Direction of the movement decides neural response. (position-point theory)
