The recent literature on the neural basis of semi-automatic movements such asmastication and swallowing has emphasized the crucial role of brainstem pattern generators in their genesis and regulation. While much less emphasis has been given to the role of higher brain centers, it has been shown that rhythmic jaw movements and swallowing can be evoked in primates by intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) as well as by electrical surface stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation of the lateral part of the pericentral cortex of both hemispheres, including the primary face motor cortex (face MI), the primary face somatosensory cortex (face SI), the principal part of the cortical masticatory area (CMA) /swallow cortex, and the deep part of CMA/swallow cortex. Furthermore, recordings of single neuronal activities and ICMS-evoked movements and EMG activities indicate that each of these cortical regions appears to have distinct sensory input and motor output patterns related to rhythmical jaw movements and swallowing, and many neurons in these areas show ingestion-related firing patterns, including activity associated with mastication and swallowing. Recent studies on the behavioral alterations using cold block technique on CMA/swallow cortex, face MI, and face SI indicated the peculiar effects on mastication and swallowing. Bilateral cold block of CMA/swallow cortex was associated with masticatory deficits, reflected as impaired food intake or manipulation and difficulty in carrying out a sequence of masticatory cycles, and alterations of the food-preparatory phase and masticatory and swallowing-related EMG patterns of jaw, tongue, and swallow muscles. Cold block of face MI markedly affected the ability of the monkey to carry out mastication and swallowing. The masticatory deficit was characterized by a significant elongation of the total masticatory time, including in particular elongation of the food preparatory phase. The coordination of the jaw- and tongue-muscle activities was severely disrupted during the food preparatory phase. Although cold block of face MI elongated the duration of the preswallow phase, but it had no significant effect on swallow duration or the EMG parameters during swallowing. Cold block of face SI affected to the total masticatory time, which was due principally to an increase in the preswallow phase time. Taking into consideration the above further evidences of effects by cold block of the CMA/swallow cortex, face MI and face SI, these three cortical regions may be differentially involved in the initiation and control of mastication and swallowing.