BrodmannAreal

BrodmannAreal, commonly referred to in English as a Brodmann area, designates a region of the cerebral cortex defined by the cytoarchitectural map created by Korbinian Brodmann. In his 1909 monograph, Brodmann divided the cortex into about 52 discrete areas based on patterns of cell density, size, and laminar organization observed in stained brain sections. Each area is identified by a numerical label, and many neuroscientists reference these numbers to communicate about cortical locations across studies.

The basis of the Brodmann map is cytoarchitecture rather than gross anatomy or direct functional labeling. Brodmann's areas were derived from comparative histology across multiple brains and species, as he sought correspondences between cellular structure and observed function, variability, and development.

In contemporary neuroscience, BrodmannAreal numbering remains a common reference framework for reporting location in anatomical and functional studies. It is frequently used in conjunction with neuroimaging data, where activation or structural measurements are mapped to the corresponding Brodmann areas in various brain atlases. However, Brodmann areas are not equivalent to precise functional borders; boundaries can vary among individuals, and functional regions may not align perfectly with cytoarchitectural boundaries. Modern approaches often integrate multiple modalities, including connectivity, receptor distribution, and functional data, to refine cortical localization beyond the original map.

BrodmannAreal thus serves as a historical and practical reference point in neuroanatomy, offering a standardized vocabulary for discussing cortical regions while acknowledging its limitations as a sole map of brain function.