The concept of a separate premotor cortical field involved in the cerebral control of movement went out of favor among neurophysiologists during the quarter century from 1952 to 1977, but recent studies have led to its rehabilitation. The premotor cortex appears to be one of at least three fields within the motor cortex, two others being the primary motor cortex and the supplementary motor cortex. Several proposals have been presented concerning the functional specializations of the premotor cortex. Although no specific hypotheses have very strong support at present, the best evidence favors a role for premotor cortex in the preparation for and the sensory guidance of movement.