gustatory cortex

The term gustatory cortex refers to the areas of cerebral cortex involved functionally in taste perception. The locations to which it is attributed varies by species, by method of detection, and by author. In primates it involves the frontoparietal operculum and the anterior insula. fMRI studies in the human suggest that the primary areas are in the ventroanterior part of the right anterior insula with smaller areas located bilaterally in dorsal parts of anterior insula and the long insular gyri. Areas in which gustation is associated with other functions include all of the ventral part, and a small area near the dorsal boundary of, the anterior insula ( Fig. 3 in Kurth-2010b ). All studies of the macaque agree to a location on the inner and horizontal surfaces of the frontoparietal operculum, the portions of the postcentral gyrus and the precentral gyrus that overlie the dorsal part of the insula, which are identified as area OFO of Roberts ( Mesulam-1984 ) or area Gu of Paxinos (macaque) ( Paxinos-2009a ). That area receives a direct projection from the gustatory relay nucleus in the thalamus, i.e., the parvicellular part of the ventral posteromedial nucleus (VPMpc). Reports differ with regard to the internal structure of the frontal operculum area; some label it granular ( Mesulam-1984 ), others dysgranular ( Pritchard-2012 ). Additional projections have been traced to adjacent dorsal parts of granular insula and dysgranular insular cortex (Roberts). Some have interpreted these to represent secondary gustatory areas ( Sewards-2001 ). In the rat ( Swanson-2004 ) and mouse ( Hof-2000 ), the gustatory cortex is identified with the dysgranular insula.

Also known as: gustatory area, gustatory cortex, gustatory areas, primary taste cortex, area Gu of Paxinos (macaque)

NeuroNames ID: 1358

All Names & Sources

1 of 11

Showing 11 synonym(s) - Use arrows to navigate

Showing 11 synonym(s)

Name:

area gustativa

Language:

Italian

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1995

Citation:

EdiSes, s.r.l.- Napoli, 1995

Source Title:

Fondamenti di Neuroanatomia

Name:

área del gusto

Language:

Spanish

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1994

Citation:

edicion 4, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore; traducción de Editorial Medica Panamericana, Buenos Aires, efectuada por el Dr. Alejandro Kaufman

Source Title:

Neuroanatomía Fundamentos

Name:

gustatory area

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

gustatory cortex

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

área gustativa

Language:

Spanish

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1994

Citation:

edicion 4, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore; traducción de Editorial Medica Panamericana, Buenos Aires, efectuada por el Dr. Alejandro Kaufman

Source Title:

Neuroanatomía Fundamentos

Name:

gustatory area

Language:

English

Organism:

rat

Source:

Swanson-2004

Citation:

Third Edition, Elsevier Academic Press, Oxford, 2004

Source Title:

Brain Maps: Structure of the Rat Brain.

Name:

gustatory areas

Language:

English

Organism:

mouse

Source:

Dong-2004

Citation:

Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, 2004

Source Title:

Allen Reference Atlas

Name:

primary taste cortex

Language:

English

Organism:

macaque

Source:

Pritchard-2012

Citation:

Chapter 33 in The Human Nervous System, JK Mai and G Paxinos (Eds.), pp. 1187-1218, Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Source Title:

Gustatory System

Name:

area Gu of Paxinos (macaque)

Language:

English

Organism:

macaque

Source:

Paxinos-2009a

Citation:

Amsterdam: Elsevier-Academic Press. 2009

Source Title:

The Rhesus Monkey Brain, Second Edition

Name:

Language:

acronym

Organism:

rat

Source:

Swanson-2004

Citation:

Third Edition, Elsevier Academic Press, Oxford, 2004

Source Title:

Brain Maps: Structure of the Rat Brain.

Name:

Language:

acronym

Organism:

Macaca mulatta

Source:

Paxinos-2009a

Citation:

Amsterdam: Elsevier-Academic Press. 2009

Source Title:

The Rhesus Monkey Brain, Second Edition

Illustrations

Showing 4 illustration(s)

drawing of
lateral aspect in
macaque

diagrams of medial and
orbital prefrontal cortex in
human and macaque

Nissl stain & diagram of
coronal section in
mouse

Nissl stain & diagram of
sagittal section in
mouse

Species With The Structure

Equivalent By	Human	Macaque	Rat	Mouse
Internal Structure	Has The Structure	Relevant Data Not Located	Has The Structure	Has The Structure

1 of 4

Showing 4 record(s) - Use arrows to navigate

Showing 4 record(s)

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

gustatory area

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

gustatory cortex

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Rattus (rat)

Their Name:

gustatory area

Source:

Swanson-2004

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Mus (mouse)

Their Name:

gustatory areas

Source:

Dong-2004

Models Where It Appears

Functional CNS Model - Rat

The Functional CNS Model - Rat (FMrat) ( Swanson-2004) is one of three hierarchical models representing the internal organization of the central nervous system (CNS). The others are the Structural CNS Model - Human (SThmn) and the Functional CNS Model - Human (FMhmn). The FMrat model represents the basic organization of the mouse ( Hof-2000 AMBA-2024 ) and, presumably, other rodents. Functional CNS models differ from structural models in that structures are defined and named by connectivity rather than by proximity to other structures at the same level. Functional models are more useful for representing longitudinal components of are grouped based on information drawn from multiple neuroscientific disciplines. such as connections, neurochemical characteristics, and role in physiogical and behavioral processes. While the Functional Model was developed primarily for an atlas of the rat brain ( Swanson-2004 ), the hierarchical organization of structures is for the most part applicable to the human, macaque, mouse and other mammalian brains as well. Structures at lower levels of the Functional CNS hierarchy are largely the same as in the Classical and Developmental Models, i.e., they were originally identified by stains for gray matter (Nissl substance) and white matter (myelin). At the next higher level they are grouped into basic connectional and functional systems of the CNS, such as the subcortical sensory systems, the brainstem motor system and the behavioral state system. At the highest levels CNS structures are grouped on the basis of dissection and embryologic precursors into cerebrum ( cerebral cortex and cerebral nuclei ), cerebellum, and cerebrospinal trunk.