Lateral Gyrus: Definition, History, and Characteristics
The lateral gyrus is an area of the brain located along the lateral surface of the cerebral cortex. It is a part of the frontal lobe, which is responsible for executive functions such as decision-making, planning, and problem solving. The lateral gyrus is the most common gyrus in the frontal lobe and is involved in many aspects of cognition and behavior.
Definition
The lateral gyrus is a region of the brain located on the lateral surface of the frontal lobe. It is bounded by the precentral gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, and medial frontal gyrus. The lateral gyrus is comprised of two parts: the superior lateral gyrus and the inferior lateral gyrus. The superior lateral gyrus is located above the inferior lateral gyrus and is connected to the precentral gyrus. The inferior lateral gyrus is located below the superior lateral gyrus and is connected to the superior frontal gyrus.
History
The lateral gyrus was first described by German anatomist Johann Friedrich Meckel in 1820. He identified the superior and inferior parts of the gyrus in the human brain and also noted its connections to the precentral gyrus and superior frontal gyrus. Since then, the lateral gyrus has been studied extensively and has been found to be involved in various aspects of cognition and behavior.
Characteristics
The lateral gyrus is involved in numerous aspects of cognition and behavior. It is involved in language processing, attention, and memory. It is also involved in executive functions such as decision-making, planning, and problem solving. The lateral gyrus is also involved in emotional processing and has been found to be active during tasks involving emotional responses or self-reflection.
References
Meckel, J. F. (1820). Handbuch der Anatomie des Menschen. Erster Theil. Berlin, C. F. Bohn.
Catani, M., Jones, D. K., Donato, R., & Ffytche, D. H. (2003). Occipito-temporal connections in the human brain. Brain, 126(7), 2093-2107.
Fuster, J. M. (2008). The Prefrontal Cortex: Anatomy, Physiology, and Neuropsychology of the Frontal Lobe. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Pessoa, L. (2008). On the relationship between emotion and cognition. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 9(2), 148-158.
Vogt, B. A., Finch, D. M., & Olson, C. R. (1992). Functional heterogeneity in cingulate cortex: the anterior executive and posterior evaluative regions. Cerebral Cortex, 2(3), 435-443.