Brodmann’s 47 areas, and the brain regions they contain.

A mapping of the brain that helps us understand its structures and functions.

Our brain is a large and complex set of organs, made up of different structuresIt is made up of different structures which fulfill different functions in the organism. The most visible of them all is the most external and developed in the human being, allowing its existence from the processing of information from the senses to the implementation of complex cognitive abilities: the cerebral cortex.

But the cerebral cortex does not have the same structure over its entire surface, nor does it have the same functions in all its points. This has led to the creation of imaginary divisions that limit different regions of the cortex for study purposes. And among all the existing ones, the best known and most widely used is that of Brodmann's areas..

A map of the parts of the cerebral cortex

They receive the name of areas of Brodmann the set of imaginary divisions in which the cerebral cortex can be divided and that allows the identification of concrete regions of this one.

This division was proposed by the psychiatrist Korbinian Brodmann in 1909. in 1909, the divisions not being random but based on the existence of differences in the composition, structure and arrangement of cells in different areas of the cortex.

The author's objective was to generate a topographic classification from the study of the anatomical characteristics, focusing on cytoarchitectonics and generating spatial divisions of the cortex in order to elaborate theory and be able to apply it in the field of pathology. The studies were carried out with a large number of animal species, but would only describe in detail the human brain and that of other apes..

In the case of the human being, Brodmann made a division into a total of 47 zones or areas, although some of them can be subdivided to form a total of 52.

Brodmann's areas currently form a classification of brain areas that is more a classification of brain areas that is better known and used worldwide.They have made it possible to map the brain and are very useful both for researching specific regions and for directing and carrying out different medical interventions.

The different Brodmann areas

In the original classification, Brodmann divided the cerebral cortex into as many as 47 different areas.. Specifically, we can find the following areas.

Brodmann area 1

Brodmann's area 1 can be found just after the central sulcus or Rolando's fissure. It is part of the primary somatosensory area and works with somesthetic information coming from the body.

Area 2 of Brodmann

This area is also part of the primary somatosensory cortex, having the same functions as the previous one.

Area 3 of Brodmann

Together with the two previous areas, it is part of the primary somatosensory cortex. It also collects and processes information from state and somesthetic sensations such as touch or proprioception.

Brodmann's area 4

This brain area corresponds to a large extent with the primary motor area, being of great importance in sending the skeletal muscles the order to contract or dilate.

Brodmann's area 5

This area of Brodmann is part of the secondary somatosensory area, contributing to the processing of somesthetic information.

Brodmann's area 6

Region in which the premotor area is located, thanks to which we can plan our movements before performing them and in which several basic movement programs are stored.

Area 7 of Brodmann

Like area 5, area 7 is part of the secondary somatosensory cortex, helping to process and integrate information from the primary somatosensory cortex. It enables the recognition of stimuli stimuli by capturing and allowing the understanding of their general characteristics.

Brodmann's area 8

It is part of the secondary motor cortex, in this case having special relevance in the movement of the muscles that control the eyes.

Brodmann's area 9

This area is part of the prefrontal cortex, specifically the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Closely linked to executive functions and sense of self-awareness, it works with aspects such as empathy, memory, attention, emotional processing and management. It is also partly a tertiary motor area, influencing for example verbal fluency.

Brodmann Area 10

Like the previous one, it is part of the prefrontal (being its most anterior part) and specifically to the frontopolar region. It is linked to aspects such as planning, introspection, memory and ability to divide attention..

Brodmann's Area 11

Like 9 and 10, area 11 is a tertiary association area that is part of the prefrontal, participating in higher cognitive functions and skills. Specifically, it is part of the orbitofrontal region, linked to the management of our social interaction and the management and appropriateness of our behavior, inhibiting and controlling, for example, aggressiveness.

Brodmann's Area 12

This area also includes part of the orbitofrontal includes part of the orbitofrontalas well as the previous one.

Area 13 of Brodmann

This area has the particularity that it can be difficult to see with the naked eye. It is part of the insula, in its anterior part. It helps to coordinate the movements necessary for language. It also connects the prefrontal and limbic systems, relating to sexual and emotional behavior.

Area 14 of Brodmann

This area has practically the same functions as the previous one, although it is also linked to information processing. is also linked to the processing of olfactory and visceral information..

Area 15 of Brodmann

Linked to the processing of Blood Pressure information and carotid pressure, as well as panic attacks. Initially Brodmann did not find this area (nor the previous one) in humans but in other apes, although later research has found that we possess similar structures.

Brodmann's Area 16

This area occupies most of the insula, helping to process aspects such as pain, temperature, phonological information or the ability to swallow.

Brodmann's area 17

Primary visual area. This is the first area of the cortex that begins to process visual information from the lateral geniculate nucleus, also possessing a retinotopic mapping or representation of the eye and the visual field that allows subsequent and more accurate processing. It also obtains the first impressions of color, orientation or movement..

Brodmann's area 18

One of the extrastriate cortexes that are part of the secondary visual cortex. It enables 3-dimensional vision and detection of light intensity.

Brodmann's area 19

It is also one of the extrastriate or secondary visual cortexes, and in this case it also allows visual recognition of stimuli by linking with memory.

Area 20 of Brodmann

It is also part of the ventral visual pathway or what pathway (which allows us to see color and shape). In short, it allows us to know what we are seeing. Includes the inferior temporal gyrus.

Area 21 of Brodmann

Area 21 is an auditory association areawhich is part of the well-known Wernicke's area. It participates among other things in language comprehension.

Brodmann's area 22

When we think of Wernicke's area itself, we are mostly thinking of this area. It is thus linked to the ability to understand language, helping to transform and link auditory information with its meaning.

Brodmann's area 23

It is part of the area of the cortex linked to emotional information and memory, being connected to the limbic system.

Area 24 of Brodmann

Like the previous one, it is involved in the processing and perception of emotions and its link with behavior (connected to the orbitofrontal and limbic system).

Area 25 of Brodmann

Located near the cingulum, in the subgenual area. It is linked to movement below the knee, mood, appetite or sleep. The part closest to the prefrontal is linked to self-esteem.

Brodmann's area 26

It is related to the autobiographical memory and is located in the is located in the cingulate gyrus..

Brodmann's area 27

This brain region, like the previous one, is linked to processes related to memory (being close to the hippocampus), as well as to the brain areas that allow the perception and identification of odors. In fact, it contains part of the so-called primary olfactory cortex.

Brodmann's area 28

Associative cortex which, like the previous one, participates both in memory processes and in the integration of information from olfactory perception. Also part of the entorhinal cortex is also in this area.The latter is a region that allows information from the rest of the brain to pass to the hippocampus and vice versa.

Area 29 of Brodmann

This area, in the retrosplenial part of the cingulum, is also linked to memory, being an example of it the evocation of experiences.

Area 30 of Brodmann

Associative area like the previous one and with similar functions. Located in the subsplenial part of the cingulum. It is linked to memory and learning, as well as to conditioning.

Brodmann's area 31

Also in the cingulate gyrus, this area is linked to memory processing and emotions, participating in the sense of familiarity.

Brodmann's area 32

Part of the parietal and near frontal, in the dorsal part of the cingulate gyrus, this region is involved in cognitive processes such as decision making and response inhibition..

Brodmann's area 33

Like the previous one, this area is related to decision making, as well as pain perception, emotional processing and motor planning.

Brodmann's area 34

The uncus can be found in this region. It is therefore an area that would be part of the primary olfactory cortex. The perception of disgust or olfactory and taste memory are also aspects in which it participates. are also aspects in which it participates.

Brodmann's area 35

It includes the perirhinal cortex. It is involved in memory, being linked to unconscious memories. It is also involved in the recognition of images.

Brodmann's area 36

Brodmann's area 36 helps to encoding and retrieving autobiographical memories. It also helps process information related to spatial location. It contains the parahippocampal cortex.

Brodmann area 37

Integrates part of the fusiform gyrus. It processes multimodal information. This area is related to face recognition, sign language or metaphor comprehension, among others.

Area 38 of Brodmann

Another area of association, linked to both memory and emotions. It is also involved in the semantic processing of information.

Brodmann's area 39

In this Brodmann area we find the angular gyrus, involved in the comprehension of verbal and written language or in calculation.

Brodmann's area 40

Here we find the supramarginal gyrus we find the supramarginal gyrus as one of the most relevant structures. Together with the angular gyrus, it allows the ability to link graphemes and phonemes, which is essential for reading and writing. It is also linked to tactile and motor learning and recognition.

Brodmann's area 41

Area corresponding to the primary auditory cortex, the first nucleus of the cortex to process auditory information. It detects frequency changes and participates in the localization of the sound source.

Area 42 of Brodmann

Secondary auditory cortexas well as Wernicke's area. Allows higher level processing of information obtained from the primary auditory cortex.

Brodmann's area 43

Located in the posterior part of the insula and practically at the Sylvian fissure, this is the part of the gustatory cortex that allows us to process at the level of the cortex the information about taste and flavor.

Brodmann's area 44

Together with area 45 it forms Broca's area, allowing the production of spoken and written language. Area 44 corresponds to the pars opercularis of Broca's area, and is also linked to intonation, gesticulation and movements necessary to produce language.

Brodmann's area 45

Together with the previous one, it forms Broca's area, essential for speech production.which is essential for the production of fluent speech. Area 45 includes the pars triangularis, linked to semantic processing as well as gesticulation, facial expression and intonation.

Brodmann's area 46

In the inferior frontal gyrus, it is part of the dorsolateral prefrontal, and its role in attention and working memory is relevant.

Brodmann's area 47

Also called pars orbitalis, it also participates in Broca's area and has an important implication in language. Specifically in the syntax of language, as well as that of music.

Bibliographical references:

• D'Amicis, F., Hofer, P. and Rockenhaus, F. (2011) The automatic brain: The power of the unconscious.

• Kumar DR, Aslinia F, Yale SH, Mazza JJ (2014). "Jean-Martin Charcot: The Father of Neurology". Clin Med Res.

• Martin JB (002). "The integration of neurology, psychiatry, and neuroscience in the 21st century". The American Journal of Psychiatry.