Why are the Brodmann Areas Important?

The classification of the different areas has facilitated the investigation of functional specialization within the cortex. Most cortical functions involve the networked activity of multiple Brodmann areas. Several Brodmann areas are now associated with specific functions, such as primary sensory and motor areas, as well as higher cognitive functions like language processing and decision-making (Glasser et al., 2016). For instance, Brodmann area 4 corresponds to the primary motor cortex, area 17 to the primary visual cortex, and areas 44 and 45 to Broca's area, which is crucial for speech production. 
 

While Brodmann areas provide a valuable framework for understanding cortical organization, they don’t capture the full complexity of the brain's functional architecture. Advances in neuroimaging techniques have identified additional areas and functional networks, highlighting the intricate organization of the cortex beyond Brodmann's classification (Glasser et al., 2016).

Today, most Brodmann Areas have been assigned functions, which makes them interesting and potentially important for future research, understanding implications of associated brain damage, and working with neurofeedback and other modern helping modalities to undo or mitigate that damage.

It’s exciting really! If you’re interested in learning more, I plan to continue adding more interactive ways to explore their meanings and functions. Click Complete & Continue to try my matching quiz!