Motor Cortex

The region of the cerebral cortex responsible for planning, controlling, and executing voluntary movements. Located in the frontal lobe along the precentral gyrus, the motor cortex is organised somatotopically — different areas control different body parts. In brain-computer interface research, the motor cortex is the primary target for electrode implantation because its neurons fire in patterns associated with intended movements, even when the person is physically unable to move due to conditions like spinal cord injury or locked-in syndrome. By recording these neural firing patterns, BCI systems can decode movement intentions and translate them into computer commands or device control signals.