The term premotor cortex refers to anterodorsal areas of the cerebral cortex that are defined on the basis of internal structure, connectivity and function. It is one of two parts of the motor cortex; the other is the primary motor cortex ( Matelli-2004 ). In the human it is located in caudal parts of the superior frontal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus and in the rostral part of the precentral gyrus not occupied by the primary motor cortex; it is identified with area 6 of Brodmann (human). In the macaque it is located entirely in the precentral gyrus and, dorsally, in the caudal part of the superior frontal gyrus; it is also identified with area 6 of Brodmann (guenon). In both it is subdivided into three parts: the mesial premotor cortex, dorsal premotor cortex, and ventral premotor cortex. In the rat ( Swanson-2004 ) and the mouse ( Hof-2000 ) the premotor cortex, defined by absence of granular layers, is not subdivided. It is the more medial of the two parts of the motor cortex located dorsolaterally in the anterior half of the cerebral cortex; at the frontal pole it occupies the entire dorsal aspect of the cortex; from there it gradually narrows to its caudal extreme, where it occupies a narrow band on the dorsal surface along the midline.