Homonculus

The homunculus refers to a representation of the human body in the brain.
It is a distorted map of the body, where different body parts are represented in different sizes based on their importance and sensitivity.
The homunculus is found in the primary motor cortex and primary somatosensory cortex.
It shows the topographic arrangement of neurons in these areas, with neighboring parts of the body being represented by neighboring spots on the brain.
The hand is represented near the forearm, which is represented near the elbow, and so on.
The homunculus is flexible and can change based on the body’s needs and experiences.
For example, if a hand is amputated, the cortical territory that previously represented the hand may be taken over by neighboring territories.
The homunculus is a result of the brain’s ability to adapt and reorganize itself based on sensory inputs and experiences.

You can actually see the homonculus in the fMRI scanner.

the motor system is part of processing movement words.

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Created: 05-06-24 19:56