Brodmann areas

Introduction

The Brodmann brain areas, named after the German anatomist neurologist Korbinian Brodmann, give a division of the cerebral cortex into 52 numbered areas based on their structure and function.


Dr. Brodmann did a lot of research on brain cell structure.

He stained the cells under the microscope using the Nissl method for cell staining and eventually numbered areas that had similarities.

He published about his knowledge in 1909.

This classification, developed in the early 20th century, is still used in neuroscience to identify different parts of the brain.
Each area has specific functions, such as motor control, language, sensory perception or visual processing.
For example, area 4 is known for its role in controlling movement (motor control), while area 17 is essential for processing what we see (visual information).
Brodmann’s work has made a major contribution to our understanding of brain function and is often used in modern brain research techniques, such as fMRI and PET scans.

 

The Brodmann areas differ by:

  1. the construction of the brain cells in size, shape, structure, distribution and biochemical activity (cytoarchitecture)
  2. the microscopic anatomy of the structure and function (
    histological structure)
  3. the organization of cells

The Brodmann classification (we name the most important ones)

  • Brodmann 1, 2, 3 - Primary somatosensory cortex (postcentral gyrus)works with information from the body.
  • Brodmann 4 - Primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus)
  • Brodmann 5 - Somatosensory association cortex processing of information movement and feeling
  • Brodmann 6 - Premotor cortex Planning of movements
  • Brodmann 7 - Secondary somatosensory cortex processing and integrating information from 1,2,3 and 5
  • Brodmann 8 - Secondary motor cortex for eye control
  • Brodmann 9 - Dorsolateral/anterior prefrontal cortex for motor planning and organization
  • Brodmann 10 - Anterior prefrontal cortex for memory retrieval, risk and decision making, odor evaluation, reward and conflict, pain, nociception and working memory
  • Brodmann 13 - for coordinating movements necessary for language
  • Brodmann 14 - for processing odor information and information from the intestines
  • Brodmann 17 - Primary visual cortex function seeing
  • Brodmann 22 - Primary auditory cortex function hearing
  • 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 36 and even 37 play a role in memory
  • Brodmann 32 - decision making and inhibitory effect on unwanted behavior (response inhibition)
  • Brodmann 35 - Part of episodic memory, unconscious memories
  • Brodmann 36 - Part of the
    autobiographical memory
  • Brodmann 37 - Occipitotemporal (fusiform) gyrus, recognition of faces and recall of names
  • Brodmann 22, 39, 40 -
    Wernicke's area (language comprehension)
  • Brodmann 44 and 45 (and 47) - Broca's area function motor speech programming
  • Brodmann 46 - Part of inferior frontal gyrus, attention and working memory

 

 

 

 

 

Outside of the brain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside of the brain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

images by Henry Gray

Read more about the consequences per brain area via this link

Resources

team Hersenletsel-uitleg

Images by Henry Vandyke Carter - Henry Gray (1918) Anatomy of the Human Body (See "Boek" section below)Bartleby.com: Gray'sAnatomy, Plaat 726, Publiek domein, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=620390

Picture of Brodman area's by Mark Dow. Research Assistant Brain Development Lab, University of Oregon. - http://lcni.uoregon.edu/~dow/Space_software/renderings.html

Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8324220

Economo, C.; Koskinas, G.N. (1925). "Die Cytoarchitektonik der Hirnrinde des erwachsenen Menschen" (in German). Wien & Berlin: Springer.Peng K, Steele SC, Becerra L, Borsook D. Brodmann area 10: Collating, integrating and high level processing of nociception and pain. Prog Neurobiol. 2018Feb;161:1-22. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2017.11.004. Epub 2017 Dec 2. PMID: 29199137; PMCID: PMC5826795.Premji A, Rai N, Nelson A. Area 5 influences excitability within the primary motor cortex in humans. PLoS One. 2011;6(5):e20023. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0020023. Epub 2011 May 16. PMID: 21603571; PMCID: PMC3095637.

Stinnett TJ, Reddy V, Zabel MK. Neuroanatomy, Broca Area. 2023 Aug 8. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan–.PMID: 30252352.

Tennant VR, Harrison TM, Adams JN, La Joie R, Winer JR, Jagust WJ. Fusiform Gyrus Phospho-Tau is Associated with Failure of Proper Name Retrieval inAging. Ann Neurol. 2021 Dec;90(6):988-993. doi: 10.1002/ana.26237. Epub 2021 Oct 12. PMID: 34590340; PMCID: PMC8639714.