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The precentral gyrus (PCG), also known as the motor strip or primary motor cortex, is the part of the brain’s neocortex responsible for executing voluntary movements. This gyrus is located in the most posterior portion of the frontal lobe, lying immediately anterior to (in front of) the central sulcus, and extending from the apex of the brain down to the sylvian fissure, which delineates the temporal lobe. Histologically, neurons in the precentral gyrus have a similar architecture and are denoted as Brodmann’s area 4. The functional organization of the PCG follows a topographical representation of an inverted homunculus (small human), such that the head and face regions are represented at the lowermost portion of the gyrus, the body and limbs extend toward the upper part of the gyrus, and the feet “dangle” over the apex of the brain. Areas of increased fine motor dexterity, especially the lips, tongue, and hands,...
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Bookheimer, S.Y. (2013). Precentral Gyrus. In: Volkmar, F.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_203
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_203
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