Final answer:
Functional connectivity refers to how different brain regions work together in specific situations, such as the cerebral cortex integrating sensory information to coordinate complex tasks like catching a ball or testing water temperature. The superior colliculus is also involved in coordinating head and eye movements in response to sensory input.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept that different areas of the brain work together in specific circumstances is referred to as c) Functional connectivity. This idea supports how sensory stimuli, like the temperature of the shower, are processed and integrated in the brain. For instance, when testing the temperature, the greatest level of integration is taking place in the d) cerebral cortex. This is because the cerebral cortex is involved in multimodal integration, where sensory information from multiple sources is processed to arrive at a higher level of cortical function, including memory, learning, or cognition.
Moreover, there are specific brain regions like the posterior parietal cortex, which lie in between the somatosensory and visual cortices, that coordinate complex functions such as movement, vision, and proprioception. Catching a ball, for example, involves coordinating the head and eyes, a function aided by the d) superior colliculus. These activities demonstrate how various regions of the nervous system collaborate to integrate sensory inputs with motor outputs, resulting in seamless cognitive abilities.