Cerebral Cortex
Anatomy: The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the cerebrum. It is a sheet of neurons 2-4mm thick, wrinkled and folded to increase the surface area that can fit inside the interior of the skull. Scientists estimate that the cerebral cortex contains nearly 10% of the brain's total amount of neurons. White matter, composed of the axons of cortical neurons, lies beneath the cerebral cortex, linking different regions together as well as to other important neural centers.
Function: The cerebral cortex is very important in motor function and sensory processing. Separate areas are responsible for control of auditory, visual, body sensation, and motor processing. Neurons create connections and crossover between separate regions of the cerebral cortex, allowing control of the same function from different areas of the cerebral cortex. |