Somatosensory System and Movement Pt. 2

The somatosensory cortex (S1 and S2) and movement

Both of these regions are located in the parietal lobe of the brain. The latter is responsible for providing an understanding of the world around us. As mentioned in my previous post, the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) is responsible for detecting touch, stress, motion, pressure, taste, temperature and pain. The secondary somatosensory cortex processes the information and stores it in our brain as it has direct links with our hippocampus and our amygdala. Our hippocampus plays a major role in learning and memory and is the main region in our brain that has been related to neurogenesis; the birth of new neurons. Our amygdala is the area of the brain that mediates emotional responses to sensory stimulus. It also helps us adapt instinctually to changes in our environment based on prior learning of the experience.

Since everything we think and do are intimately woven, the parietal lobes are interconnected with the prefrontal cortex (where the motor cortex resides) and together these regions make up the highest order of movement integration in our body. This is how our brain decides which action to take and which movement is appropriate for the feedback received from the somatosensory cortex.

So can we alter the memory of a previously experienced movement and if so, how? In my next post, I’ll touch on neuroplastcity and what that actually means for us as humans.

Jocelyne Pelchat

Neuroscientist | Movement Specialist