Which area of the brain is heavily involved in the planning of voluntary movements?

The premotor cortex plays a crucial role in the planning and coordination of voluntary movements. It is located in the frontal lobe, just anterior to the primary motor cortex. This area integrates sensory information and is involved in the preparation and execution of movements by organizing the sequence of actions needed to carry out a task. It also contributes to the understanding of the actions of others and how those actions can be imitated, underscoring its importance in motor learning and planning.

In contrast, the cerebellum is primarily involved in the coordination and fine-tuning of movements rather than planning them. The primary visual cortex processes visual information rather than motor functions, and the hippocampus is essential for memory formation and spatial navigation, not directly related to movement planning. Therefore, the premotor cortex is the area most specialized for planning voluntary movements.