association cortex

n. Cortical areas that are neither primary motor nor primary sensory areas but are thought to be involved in higher processing of information. Association areas can be subdivided into the following categories: (1) The unimodal association cortex: cortical areas involved in processing one particular type of sensory information (visual association area, auditory association area, etc). They are located around the primary sensory area. Damage in these cortical areas results in inability to recognize and understand that specific type of sensory information (i.e., agnosia), as well as difficulties in recalling that form of information (specific amnesias). (2) Polymodal association areas: they process information from different sensory systems and participate in cross-modal associations. A major polymodal association area is the parietal-temporal-occipital area, situated in the interface of these three lobes. A polymodal association area may also be referred to as a tertiary area. (3) Sometimes a further division is included, and the prefrontal association cortex is regarded as a supramodal area. The prefrontal cortex is involved not in processing specific forms of information, but rather in organizing, controlling, and planning cognition and behavior. Frequently, however, the prefrontal cortex is regarded together with the parietal-temporal-occipital area as the two tertiary cortical areas. - AA