motor homunculus

a figurative representation, in distorted human form, of the somatotopic organization of the motor cortex as originally mapped by U.S.-born Canadian neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield (1891–1976). Within this mapping, the size of the brain region associated with a body part reflects the complexity of the activities carried out with that part of the body rather than its actual size. Compare sensory homunculus.

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Psychology term of the day

January 19th 2025

dyad (diad)

Sorry, "dyad-diad" is not in the Dictionary of Psychology. Please report to APA if you believe this is an error.