Brodmann area 6 524217 214402042 2008-05-23T11:48:11Z Dbabbitt 20905 /* Human */ Fixed a typo [[image:Ba6.png|right|]] ==Human== '''Brodmann area 6''', or BA6, is part of the [[frontal lobe|frontal]] [[cerebral cortex | cortex]] in the [[human brain]]. Situated just anterior to the [[primary motor cortex]] ([[Brodmann area 4|BA4]]), it is composed of the [[premotor cortex]] and medially the [[supplementary motor area]], or SMA. This large area of the frontal cortex is believed to play a role in the planning of complex, coordinated movements. Brodmann area 6 is also called '''agranular frontal area 6''' in humans because it lacks an internal granular cortical layer (layer IV). It is a subdivision of the [[cytoarchitecture|cytoarchitecturally]] defined precentral region of cerebral cortex. In the human brain it is located on the portions of the [[precentral gyrus]] which are not occupied by the [[gigantopyramidal area 4]]; furthermore, BA6 extends onto the caudal portions of the [[superior frontal gyrus|superior frontal]] and [[middle frontal gyrus|middle frontal gyri]]. It extends from the [[cingulate sulcus]] on the medial aspect of the hemisphere to the [[lateral sulcus]] on the lateral aspect. Cytoarchitecturally it is bounded rostrally by the granular frontal region and caudally by the gigantopyramidal area 4 (Brodmann, 1909). ==Guenon== '''Brodmann area 6''' is a cytoarchitecturally defined portion of the frontal lobe of the [[guenon]]. Brodmann-1909 regarded it as topographically and cytoarchitecturally [[homology (biology)|homologous]] to the human agranular frontal area 6 and noted that in the monkey area 4 is larger than area 6, while in the human area 6 is larger than area 4. Distinctive features (Brodmann-1905): it is thick relative to other cortical areas; the transition from cortex to subcortical [[white matter]] is gradual; cell layers are indistinct; and the internal [[granular layer]] (IV) is absent. ==External links== * {{BrainInfo|ancil|41}} - agranular frontal area 6 * {{BrainInfo|ancil|1044}} - Brodmann area 6 ==See also== * [[Brodmann area]] * [[List of regions in the human brain]] * [[Korbinian Brodmann]] {{neuroanatomy-stub}} {{Prosencephalon}} [[Category:Brodmann areas|06]]