Evolution Of New Brain Area Enables Complex Movements
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - 01:42
in Psychology & Sociology
A new area of the cerebral cortex has evolved to enable man and higher primates to pick up small objects and deftly use tools. The brain's primary motor cortex turns out to have neighboring "old" and "new" parts. In most animals, including cats, rats and some monkeys, the old primary motor cortex controls movement indirectly through the circuitry of the spinal cord.