Final answer:
The association areas of the brain are located in the cerebral cortex and are crucial for complex mental processes like interpreting sensory information, thinking, and language comprehension.
Step-by-step explanation:
The association areas are located in the cerebral cortex. These areas are not primarily involved in sensory input or direct muscular control, but are crucial for the complex processes that give rise to our mental abilities, such as interpreting sensory information, thinking, planning, and organizing. Several known regions act as association areas, such as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which is involved in decision-making and controlling emotional responses, or the superior temporal gyrus and Wernicke's area, which are essential for language comprehension. The postcentral gyrus is an example of a primary cortical area rather than an association area. It is responsible for processing tactile information from the body.