Tactile perception (touch) and gross physical movements are coordinated by the sensorimotor areas of the brain
- The primary motor cortex is located in the precentral gyrus (frontal lobe) and handles motor signals
- The somatosensory cortex is located in the postcentral gyrus (parietal lobe) and handles tactile sensory signals
These two regions each form a cortical homunculus – a neurological map of the anatomical divisions of the body
- Parts of this representation of the human body are disproportionately large as these regions are highly innervated
- The hands, tongue and lips are very large as these appendages require more nervous control (e.g. for speech)
- Areas with less innervation (e.g. torso) have less of the cortex dedicated to their functioning and appear small
Cortical Homunculus of the Sensorimotor Areas
