Supplementary motor area

Definition

The supplementary motor area is a part of the brain located in the medial aspect of the frontal lobe, primarily involved in planning complex movements and coordinating movements between both sides of the body. It plays a crucial role in motor control, particularly for movements that are internally generated rather than triggered by external stimuli.

Related terms

Motor Cortex:

The region of the cerebral cortex involved in planning, controlling, and executing voluntary movements.

Basal Ganglia:

A group of nuclei in the brain associated with a variety of functions, including control of voluntary motor movements, procedural learning, habit learning, eye movements, cognition, and emotion.

Premotor Cortex:

An area of the frontal lobes just anterior to the primary motor cortex that is involved in preparing and executing limb movements