Mapping the Body: How the Brain Creates a Miniature Representation.
The homunculus is a miniature map of the body that exists in the somatosensory cortex of the brain and is responsible for mapping out the body. Different parts of the body take up different amounts of space in the homunculus, depending on how sensitive they are. The homunculus was discovered through years of research and experiments on animals and humans. It has helped researchers to understand the relationship between brain functions and movement and to study the effects of brain damage on movement and sensation in corresponding body parts. The homunculus has also been used to explain some neurological disorders, such as Phantom Limb Pain.