association area

noun

: an area of the cerebral cortex that functions in linking and coordinating the sensory and motor areas

Examples of association area in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some of the long-range neural connections that link these association areas to one another and to the cerebellum (the latter plays a role in voluntary movement and learning new skills) are more numerous in human brains compared with other primates. —Chet C. Sherwood, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2018

Village association Area Representative Bryan Leavitt said being centered in a great area for community fun is a major attraction point for the village. —Jeff Forward, Houston Chronicle, 6 May 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

association area

noun

variants or association cortex

: an area of the cerebral cortex that functions in linking and coordinating the sensory and motor areas

Higher cognitive functions in primates, including humans, depend on the appropriate number, organization, and connectivity of neurons in the association areas of the neocortex.

—David R. Kornack et al., Science

This [Wernicke's] area is conveniently surrounded by the auditory cortex as well as by areas collectively known as association cortex, areas that integrate auditory, visual, and somatic sensation into complex perceptions.

—Eric R. Kandel et al., Principles of Neural Science, 4th edition