Brodmann area 31

Brodmann area 31 (BA31) is a region of the brain identified by the German anatomist Korbinian Brodmann. It is located in the cerebral cortex, specifically in the parietal lobe and cingulate cortex. BA31 plays a significant role in a variety of cognitive functions, including attention, memory, and consciousness.

Anatomy[edit | edit source]

File:Brodmann area 31.png

Brodmann area 31 is located in the parietal lobe and cingulate cortex.

BA31 is part of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), which is located in the dorsal part of the cingulate cortex. It is bordered by Brodmann area 23 anteriorly, Brodmann area 30 posteriorly, and Brodmann area 5 superiorly.

The PCC, including BA31, is connected to various brain regions, such as the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus, forming part of the default mode network (DMN).

Function[edit | edit source]

BA31 is involved in various cognitive functions. It plays a role in attention, particularly in the orientation of attention towards relevant stimuli. It is also involved in memory, specifically in the retrieval of autobiographical and episodic memories.

Moreover, BA31 is implicated in consciousness. It is one of the most metabolically active regions in the brain during rest, suggesting its role in internal thought processes and self-referential thinking.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

Alterations in BA31 have been associated with several neurological and psychiatric disorders. For instance, hyperactivity in BA31 has been observed in patients with Alzheimer's disease, which may be related to the memory impairments characteristic of this condition.

Furthermore, BA31 has been implicated in schizophrenia. Studies have found reduced connectivity between BA31 and other regions of the DMN in patients with this disorder, which may contribute to the disruptions in thought processes observed in schizophrenia.