Editing Central sulcus (section)

=== Influences on development ===
The development of the shape of the central sulcus is influenced by both genetic and non-genetic factors. The deep structure of the central sulcus has been found to be more consistent in different brains than its superficial structure, suggesting that the superficial structure is more susceptible to non-genetic factors.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Le Goualher|first1=Georges|last2=Argenti|first2=Anne Marie|last3=Duyme|first3=Michel|last4=Baaré|first4=William F. C.|last5=Hulshoff Pol|first5=H. E.|last6=Boomsma|first6=Dorret I.|last7=Zouaoui|first7=Abderrezak|last8=Barillot|first8=Christian|last9=Evans|first9=Alan C.|date=2000-05-01|title=Statistical Sulcal Shape Comparisons: Application to the Detection of Genetic Encoding of the Central Sulcus Shape |journal=NeuroImage|language=en|volume=11|issue=5|pages=564–574|doi=10.1006/nimg.2000.0559|pmid=10806042|s2cid=14861519|issn=1053-8119|url=https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/b18c13db-9dc2-44ef-a627-48e1710e1514}}</ref>

The shape of the central sulcus has been found to be different between people of different biological sex. Those of male biological sex have been found to have a less convoluted (small [[fractal dimension]]) right anterior wall of the central sulcus.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Li|first1=Shuyu|last2=Xia|first2=Mingrui|last3=Pu|first3=Fang|last4=Li|first4=Deyu|last5=Fan|first5=Yubo|last6=Niu|first6=Haijun|last7=Pei|first7=Baoqing|last8=He|first8=Yong|date=2011-09-15|title=Age-related changes in the surface morphology of the central sulcus |journal=NeuroImage|language=en|volume=58|issue=2|pages=381–390|doi=10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.06.041|pmid=21741481|s2cid=9455507|issn=1053-8119}}</ref>  In addition, while the width of the central sulcus varies, the central sulcus of males has shown to have a larger average width than the central sulcus of females.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=Sun|first1=Bo|last2=Ge|first2=Haitao|last3=Tang|first3=Yuchun|last4=Hou|first4=Zhongyu|last5=Xu|first5=Junhai|last6=Lin|first6=Xiangtao|last7=Liu|first7=Shuwei|date=August 2015|title=Asymmetries of the central sulcus in young adults: Effects of gender, age and sulcal pattern|journal=International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience|language=en|volume=44|issue=C|pages=65–74|doi=10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2015.06.003|pmid=26065979|s2cid=11557722}}</ref> However, this is specific to the right hemisphere since the central sulcus of the left hemisphere has not shown significant results regarding gender differences. With regard to gender differences between hemispheres, females have been shown to have a larger average width of the central sulcus on the left side compared to that of the central sulcus on the right side.<ref name=":2" />

Age also affects the shape of the central sulcus. In adults, the distance between the anterior and posterior walls (sulcal span) increases, while the surface area of walls, the sulcal length of the posterior wall, and the convolution ([[fractal dimension]]) for the right posterior wall of the central sulcus decrease. The posterior walls of the central sulcus appear to be affected more with age.<ref name=":1" /> Differences between genders regarding the average width of the central sulcus as one ages has also been shown.<ref name=":2" /> The average width of the central sulcus in males tends to increase more rapidly over time than that of females.<ref name=":2" />

The surface area of the central sulcus has proven to have an effect on the handedness of an individual.<ref name=":3" /> Studies have found that when the central sulcus is larger in the left hemisphere, the individual tends to me more right hand dominant. This is also true about the central sulcus for left handed individuals; there is a greater surface area of the central sulcus in the right hemisphere. While the surface area of the central sulcus is shown to affect the handedness of an individual, it is not understood what the shape of the central sulcus affects as it is not widely explored. There is a region of the central sulcus, called the “hand knob”, which is a notch in the area of the hand motor region. The position of this “knob” can be indicative as well of someone's handedness.<ref name=":3">{{cite journal | doi=10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.12.050 | title=The effect of handedness on the shape of the central sulcus | date=2012 | last1=Sun | first1=Zhong Yi | last2=Klöppel | first2=Stefan | last3=Rivière | first3=Denis | last4=Perrot | first4=Matthieu | last5=Frackowiak | first5=Richard | last6=Siebner | first6=Hartwig | last7=Mangin | first7=Jean-François | journal=NeuroImage | volume=60 | pages=332–339 | s2cid=7850398 }}</ref>

As motor functions develop, it is expected that the shape of the central sulcus will change. This is due to the role of the central sulcus in separating the [[primary motor cortex]] and [[primary somatosensory cortex]].<ref name=":0" /> For example, differences along the central sulcus have been reported in musicians, particularly with regard to an omega formation along the center portion of the central sulcus, commonly referred to as the "hand knob".<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bangert|first1=Marc|last2=Schlaug|first2=Gottfried|date=September 2006|title=Specialization of the specialized in features of external human brain morphology|journal=European Journal of Neuroscience|language=en|volume=24|issue=6|pages=1832–1834|doi=10.1111/j.1460-9568.2006.05031.x|pmid=17004946|s2cid=8941002}}</ref> Among musicians who specialize in string instruments, this omega formation is specific to the right central sulcus. However, among pianists, this omega formation occurs on both sides but more prominently on the left side.