23 Facts About Cerebral cortex

Cerebral cortex, known as the cerebral mantle, is the outer layer of neural tissue of the cerebrum of the brain in humans and other mammals.

The cerebral cortex is the largest site of neural integration in the central nervous system.

In most mammals, apart from small mammals that have small brains, the cerebral cortex is folded, providing a greater surface area in the confined volume of the cranium.

Cerebral cortex is the outer covering of the surfaces of the cerebral hemispheres and is folded into peaks called gyri, and grooves called sulci.

The Cerebral cortex is thickest over the top of a gyrus and thinnest at the bottom of a sulcus.

Cerebral cortex is folded in a way that allows a large surface area of neural tissue to fit within the confines of the neurocranium.

NeoCerebral cortex is formed of six layers, numbered I to VI, from the outermost layer I – near to the pia mater, to the innermost layer VI – near to the underlying white matter.

Axons from these leave the Cerebral cortex and connect with subcortical structures including the basal ganglia.

Main arteries supplying the cortex are the anterior cerebral artery, the middle cerebral artery, and the posterior cerebral artery.

Prenatal development of the cerebral cortex is a complex and finely tuned process called corticogenesis, influenced by the interplay between genes and the environment.

Cerebral cortex develops from the most anterior part, the forebrain region, of the neural tube.

Cerebral cortex is composed of a heterogenous population of cells that give rise to different cell types.

The majority of these cells are derived from radial glia migration that form the different cell types of the neoCerebral cortex and it is a period associated with an increase in neurogenesis.

Therefore, researchers believe that similar gradients and signaling centers next to the Cerebral cortex could contribute to the regional expression of these transcription factors.

Cerebral cortex is connected to various subcortical structures such as the thalamus and the basal ganglia, sending information to them along efferent connections and receiving information from them via afferent connections.

Whole of the cerebral cortex was divided into 52 different areas in an early presentation by Korbinian Brodmann.

In more general terms the Cerebral cortex is typically described as comprising three parts: sensory, motor, and association areas.

Parts of the Cerebral cortex that receive sensory inputs from the thalamus are called primary sensory areas.

The right primary somatosensory Cerebral cortex receives information from the left limbs, and the right visual Cerebral cortex receives information from the left visual field.

The organization of sensory maps in the Cerebral cortex reflects that of the corresponding sensing organ, in what is known as a topographic map.

Just underneath the cerebral cortex are interconnected subcortical masses of grey matter called basal ganglia.

The parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes – all located in the posterior part of the Cerebral cortex – integrate sensory information and information stored in memory.

Cerebral cortex is derived from the pallium, a layered structure found in the forebrain of all vertebrates.