OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

Where is the motor cortex primarily located?

1. In the frontal lobe

2. In the occipital lobe

3. In the mid section of the brain

4. In the temporal lobe

The correct answer is: In the mid section of the brain

The motor cortex is primarily located in the frontal lobe of the brain. This region is critical for the planning, controlling, and execution of voluntary movements. It is strategically positioned at the posterior part of the frontal lobe, just in front of the central sulcus, and it controls different parts of the body in a manner that reflects their relative physical importance or dexterity. Understanding the role of the motor cortex helps clarify why the other choices do not fit. The occipital lobe is primarily involved in visual processing, the mid section of the brain generally refers to structures such as the brainstem, which are more about basic life functions than voluntary movement, and the temporal lobe is primarily associated with auditory processing and memory functions. This is why the correct location of the motor cortex is in the frontal lobe, where it plays a vital role in motor control.