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2-Minute Neuroscience: Cerebral Cortex
- Subjects: Neurosciences
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Video Introduction
This video is adapted from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TK1LpjV5bI
The cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of the brain, and is involved in a long list of brain functions---including most of the higher functions often associated with human cognition. In this video, I discuss the appearance, cellular architecture, and functional subdivisions of the cerebral cortex. [1][2][3]
For an article (on my website) that discusses the cerebral cortex, click this link: Know Your Brain: Cerebral Cortex (neuroscientificallychallenged.com)
TRANSCRIPT:
The cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of the brain. It is made up primarily of gray matter that is extensively folded, forming ridges called gyri and grooves called sulci. The folding substantially increases the surface area of the cerebral cortex, making room for more neural components.
Most of the cerebral cortex in humans is classified as neocortex, which is so named because it is thought to have appeared relatively recently in vertebrate evolution. Neurons in the neocortex are typically arranged in six layers, which are distinguished from one another by differences in cell type and cell density. The rest of the cerebral cortex is made up of either allocortex, which has a more variable pattern of layering, or mesocortex, which is a transition area between the neocortex and allocortex. Although attempts to functionally subdivide the cerebral cortex tend to oversimplify its functions, one common approach is to divide the cortex into sensory areas, motor areas, and association areas.
Sensory areas receive information related to sensation, and include regions like the primary somatosensory cortex---which processes information about sensations like touch, pain, and temperature---primary visual cortex, and primary auditory cortex, as well as other areas devoted to sensations like olfaction, taste, and the vestibular senses.
The motor areas of the cerebral cortex are involved with movement, and include regions like the primary motor cortex, premotor cortex, and supplementary motor cortex.
Association areas are involved in the integration of information from multiple brain regions. This integration can do things like add complexity to sensory perceptions or facilitate higher cognitive processes. For example, the association areas in the parietal cortex are thought to be involved with aspects of attention and perceptual awareness, and association areas in the frontal cortex are linked to complex processes like planning, impulse control, and self awareness.
References
- Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, Hall WC, Lamantia AS, Mooney RD, Platt ML, White LE, eds. Neuroscience. 6th ed. New York. Sinauer Associates; 2018.
- Vanderah TW, Gould DJ. Nolte's The Human Brain. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA. Elsevier; 2016.
- Zilles K, Amunts K. Architecture of the Cerebral Cortex. In: Mai JK and Paxinos G, eds. The Human Nervous System. 3rd ed. New York: Elsevier; 2012.
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Challenged, N. 2-Minute Neuroscience: Cerebral Cortex. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/video/video_detail/995 (accessed on 21 December 2024).
Challenged N. 2-Minute Neuroscience: Cerebral Cortex. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/video/video_detail/995. Accessed December 21, 2024.
Challenged, Neuroscientifically. "2-Minute Neuroscience: Cerebral Cortex" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/video/video_detail/995 (accessed December 21, 2024).
Challenged, N. (2023, November 23). 2-Minute Neuroscience: Cerebral Cortex. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/video/video_detail/995
Challenged, Neuroscientifically. "2-Minute Neuroscience: Cerebral Cortex." Encyclopedia. Web. 23 November, 2023.
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