Brodmann Areas

areae Brodmann

Brodmann areas are 52 regions of the cerebral cortex defined by Korbinian Brodmann in 1909 based on differences in cell layering under the microscope. Many match particular functions and are still widely used as a map of the cortex.

Anatomical Data

Structure & Connections

Location	Throughout the cerebral cortex
Parts	Area 4 (primary motor cortex) Area 6 (premotor and supplementary motor) Areas 3, 1, 2 (primary somatosensory) Area 17 (primary visual) Areas 41, 42 (primary auditory) Areas 44, 45 (Broca area) Area 22 (part of Wernicke area)
Connections	All cortical regions Thalamus Association pathways
Blood Supply	Anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries

Biomechanics

Function & Actions

Provide a shared reference map for describing locations and functions of the cortex.

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

Clinicians and researchers use Brodmann numbers to describe lesion sites, brain scan findings and stimulation targets, for example area 46 in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for magnetic stimulation in depression. Boundaries vary between people, so modern atlases add imaging-based maps.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Focal Cortical Lesion

Damage to a specific Brodmann area causing predictable loss, such as weakness from area 4 or visual field loss from area 17.

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