Brodmann area 38
Encyclopedia
Brodmann area 38, also BA38 or temporopolar area 38 (H), is part of the temporal
cortex
in the human brain
. BA 38 is at the anterior end of the temporal lobe, known as the temporal pole.
BA38 is a subdivision of the cytoarchitecturally defined temporal region of cerebral cortex
. It is located primarily in the most rostral portions of the superior temporal gyrus
and the middle temporal gyrus
. Cytoarchitecturally it is bounded caudally by the inferior temporal area 20, the middle temporal area 21, the superior temporal area 22 and the ectorhinal area 36 (Brodmann-1909).
Cytoarchitectonic and chemoarchitectonic studies find that it contains at least seven subareas, one of which, "TG", is unique to humans. "The functional significance of this area TG is not known, but it may bind complex, highly processed perceptual inputs to visceral emotional responses."p. 621
This area is among the earliest affected by Alzheimer's disease
and the earliest involved at the start of temporal lobe seizures
. [
Temporal lobe
The temporal lobe is a region of the cerebral cortex that is located beneath the Sylvian fissure on both cerebral hemispheres of the mammalian brain....
cortex
Cerebral cortex
The cerebral cortex is a sheet of neural tissue that is outermost to the cerebrum of the mammalian brain. It plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. It is constituted of up to six horizontal layers, each of which has a different...
in the human brain
Human brain
The human brain has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times larger than the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size. Estimates for the number of neurons in the human brain range from 80 to 120 billion...
. BA 38 is at the anterior end of the temporal lobe, known as the temporal pole.
BA38 is a subdivision of the cytoarchitecturally defined temporal region of cerebral cortex
Cerebral cortex
The cerebral cortex is a sheet of neural tissue that is outermost to the cerebrum of the mammalian brain. It plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. It is constituted of up to six horizontal layers, each of which has a different...
. It is located primarily in the most rostral portions of the superior temporal gyrus
Superior temporal gyrus
The superior temporal gyrus is one of three gyri in the temporal lobe of the human brain, which is located laterally to the head, situated somewhat above the external ear.The superior temporal gyrus is bounded by:* the lateral sulcus above;...
and the middle temporal gyrus
Middle temporal gyrus
Middle temporal gyrus is a gyrus in the brain on the Temporal lobe. It is located between the superior temporal gyrus and inferior temporal gyrus. Its exact function is unknown, but it has been connected with processes as different as contemplating distance, recognition of known faces, and...
. Cytoarchitecturally it is bounded caudally by the inferior temporal area 20, the middle temporal area 21, the superior temporal area 22 and the ectorhinal area 36 (Brodmann-1909).
Cytoarchitectonic and chemoarchitectonic studies find that it contains at least seven subareas, one of which, "TG", is unique to humans. "The functional significance of this area TG is not known, but it may bind complex, highly processed perceptual inputs to visceral emotional responses."p. 621
This area is among the earliest affected by Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
and the earliest involved at the start of temporal lobe seizures
Temporal lobe epilepsy
Temporal lobe epilepsy a.k.a. Psychomotor epilepsy, is a form of focal epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent seizures. Over 40 types of epilepsies are known. They fall into two main categories: partial-onset epilepsies and generalized-onset epilepsies...
. [