The premotor cortex: characteristics and functions

When we learn to play an instrument, like the guitar, many of us become aware of the complexity that it entails. It also happens when we learn to drive or when we acquire a new skill. And in this process it plays a fundamental role the premotor cortex that, among other functions, It helps us develop and automate sequences of movements to be able to execute a task correctly.

Let’s imagine that a friend is telling us about a negative event that has recently happened to them. His father was sick and has died, but he does not give us all the information: “my father was very sick and yesterday…”. Despite this lack of information, we are able to infer the end of the story and put ourselves in the other person’s shoes. Different studies indicate that the premotor cortex It is also involved in empathy and mirror neurons. Do you want to know more? Come with me!

Where is the premotor cortex located?

The brain is divided into four parts known as cerebral lobes:

Frontal lobe. Occipital lobe. Parietal lobe. Temporal lobe.

The premotor cortex is located in the frontal lobe. This lobe is the most recent brain structure in the evolution of the human being and is related to the need to control and coordinate the most complex cognitive and behavioral processes.

To contextualize the premotor cortex a little more, we are going to briefly review the structure of the frontal lobe and its main functions. This lobe is divided into three large regions: medial, orbital and dorsolateral. AND These regions are further divided into areas: dorsolateral frontal cortex, motor and premotor cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex and frontomedial cortex.

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Functions of the premotor cortex

Nadia Justel and Verónika Diaz (2012) concluded in one of their investigations that: “Specifically the premotor cortex and the cerebellum showed a fundamental role in the planning, preparation, execution and control of bimanual sequential movements of the fingers”. Thus, the results of this research demonstrate the importance of the premotor cortex in tasks such as playing an instrument, driving and those that require the use of both hands.

“The garden of neurology provides the researcher with captivating spectacles and incomparable artistic emotions.”

-Santiago Ramón y Cajal-

For their part, Pardo-Vázquez and Acuña (2014) investigated the involvement of the premotor cortex in the decision making. They concluded that it is a fundamental structure, since participates in the different stages of the decision-making process based on visual information.

Neurons in the premotor cortex not only encode information but also compare it. And not only this, but Through this encoding and comparison, we readjust and adapt our behavior as we process this information, conditioning it to the situation.

Empathy and mirror neurons also seem to have their place in the premotor cortex. It was shown that the mirror neurons in this area are activated during an action, but not only that, they remain active when part of the action is hidden, so the end can only be inferred. What is the importance of this finding?

That we not only relate to an action when we see it, but we generate internally in the premotor cortex the motor representation of an action performed by others and this makes it easier for us to understand others and their intentions, which is associated with empathy (Moya-Albiol, Herro and Bernal, 2010).

Last conclusions

The study of the brain represents a great difficulty for scientists due to its great complexity.even so the data is constantly updated through new discoveries.

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The premotor cortex, like the different brain areas, is still the target of deep and interesting scientific research. This article has explained the main functions of this brain area, but it would not be surprising if in a few years or even a few months, we could enjoy more information.

“It is necessary to vigorously shake the forest of dormant brain neurons; It is necessary to make them vibrate with the emotion of the new and instill noble and elevated concerns in them.”

-Santiago Ramón y Cajal-

Knowing our brain and knowing how it works gives us very useful information to take advantage of our most complex organ. For example, knowing that our brain gradually changes as we learn a new skill can motivate us not to give up when we start new learning. Despite the initial difficulties, we know that on a mental level we are learning and this is a great motivation. So… It’s been said, let’s learn!