Final answer:
Association areas of the cerebral cortex are responsible for integrating sensory information and higher cognitive functions, contributing to complex behaviors and processes such as memory, attention, and language.
Step-by-step explanation:
The association areas (association cortex) are key components of the human brain that are primarily responsible for the integration of sensory information and higher cognitive functions, rather than basic sensory processing, motor control, or emotional regulation. They work adjacent to the primary sensory areas to further process the information received. These regions are capable of integrating multisensory information and are involved in complex processes such as coordinating visual and motor functions, exemplified by an action like reaching to pick up a glass which involves proprioceptive feedback from the arm and hand, and adjusting the movement based on the weight of the glass.
cognitive abilities such as attention, memory, language, judgment, and abstract reasoning are all functions attributed to these association areas. In the frontal lobe, the prefrontal areas play a significant role in executive functions, which includes working memory and attention, directing behaviors towards achieving goals. In essence, association areas are crucial for synthesizing information to generate complex sensory perceptions and facilitate higher level cognitive processes that guide our behavior and understanding of the world.