2-Minute Neuroscience: Cerebral Cortex

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.

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.

[AngDevigne]

Your videos are amazing for absorbing highly technical information quickly. Love love love this channel! May your audience grow exponentially and your sponsors pay well.

[-wando-]

Here is what he said: The Cerebral Cortex is the outermost layer if the brain. It is primarily made up 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 makeing 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 typiclly arranged in six layers, which are distingguished 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 varible pattern of layering, or mesocortext, which is a transition area between the neocortex and allocortex. Although attempts to functionally subdivide the cerebral cortex tend to oversimpify its functions, one common approach is to divide the cortext into sensory area's, motor area's, and association area's. Sensory area's recive 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 area's devoted to sensations like olfaction, taste, and the vestibular senses. The motor areas of the cerebral cortext are involved with movement, and include regions like the primary motor cortex, premotor cortex, and supplementary motor cortex.
Association area's are invoved 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 area's in the parietal cortex are thought to be involved with aspects of attention and per ceptual awareness, and association area's in the frontal cortex are linked to complex processes like planning, impulse control, and self awareness. ;) have a good day

[sergiosanchezpadilla]

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[muntahajabbar]

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[geraldkenneth]

What I find really interesting about the cerebral cortex is it’s highly modular architecture consisting of minicolumns, with minor variations depending the purpose of the region they’re in. I wonder if the reason behind it is computation or if it’s just easier to code for such a homogeneous structure in DNA, or both

[NeelamTripathi-uq]

Really interesting information about the brain . I really learned a lot .

[xXCorruptedzXx]

That was incredibly simple and easy to take in <3 subbed!

[dailydoseofmedicinee]

The cerebral cortex consists of the hundreds of billions of neurons, and all of them are different variations of only three morphological shapes: pyramidal cells, fusiform cells and stellate (granular cells). Other types of cells seen in the cortex are a modification one of those three.👍

[patmclean]

Very informative. Thank just had a cva effecting only balance and slurring of speech. This video helped a lot Physical therapy helping with balance.

[guilhermesantos]

I started dissassociating when he was about to talk about association lol

[desiredecove]

Sharing to “ We’re F**kin MS Warriors”
Excellent education

[anyaleigh]

I'm stuck up on one thing. Does the cerebral cortex contain both hemispheres? How does that division work in terms of describing the cortex?

[Fentanylrecognition]

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[jhixxmk]

Sir which subject is multidisciplanary what should I choose neuroscience or neurobiology

[udznpwg]

This video ar so fantestic. Thank you.

[aamirrazak]

Excellent video as always! So are there association areas formed in the prefrontal cortex, when say studying for or taking a test? Would love to see future videos on FFI or CJD!

[ben-san]

Hi what is the orange gland at the back of the brain

[margueriteoreilly]

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[olivialamothe]

Can talk about how it works and not what it does Im a 7th grade student and want to know how the cerebral cortex prouduces/ provides conciansness and thought. my idea is that the brain understands and reads electricity frequnces and assoiattes a frequncey with a thought when we learn it excites the brain and the neurons rub together producing friction there for electricity so that frequncey makes the brain think

[Angles]

The Neuroscience is really tough subject.