cerebral cortex

noun

|Updated on: 14 May 2018

Definition of cerebral cortex

: the convoluted surface layer of gray matter of the cerebrum that functions chiefly in coordination of sensory and motor information — compare neocortex

Recent Examples of cerebral cortex from the Web

Growing up poor risks the development of a smaller cerebral cortex.

— The Economist, "Does growing up poor harm brain development?," 3 May 2018
Anjum Shaik, 10, said her favorite part of the brain display was learning about the cerebral cortex and how each lobe has its own role.

— priscella vega, latimes.com, "Kids have learning on the brains — literally — at UC Irvine conference," 24 Apr. 2018
What Zador showed me was a map of 50,000 neurons in the cerebral cortex of a mouse.

— monique brouillette, WIRED, "New Brain Maps With Unmatched Detail May Change Neuroscience," 8 Apr. 2018
Scientists agree that most, if not all, vertebrates (as well as some invertebrates) are conscious and that a cerebral cortex as swollen as our own is not a prerequisite for a subjective experience of the world.

— ferris jabr, Smithsonian, "It’s Official: Fish Feel Pain," 8 Jan. 2018
The elephant brain, despite being three times larger than our own, has only 5.6 billion neurons in its cerebral cortex.

— ferris jabr, New York Times, "To Unlock the Brain’s Mysteries, Purée It," 14 Dec. 2017
More advanced Acheulian tool-making recruits a higher-order cognitive network that spans across a large portion of the cerebral cortex.

— shelby putt, Smithsonian, "How Smart Were Early Humans? “Neuroarchaeology” Offers Some Answers," 8 May 2017
An autopsy revealed that a type of yeast that causes fungal infections was found in his cerebral cortex.

— kristine phillips, Alaska Dispatch News, "‘Something is eating my brain,’ an inmate said. A lawsuit claims he was left to die.," 28 Oct. 2017
An autopsy revealed that a type of yeast that causes fungal infections was found in his cerebral cortex.

— kristine phillips, Washington Post, "‘Something is eating my brain,’ an inmate said. A lawsuit claims he was left to die.," 28 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cerebral cortex.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of cerebral cortex

1926

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Medical Dictionary

cerebral cortex

noun

medical Definition of cerebral cortex

: the convoluted surface layer of gray matter of the cerebrum that functions chiefly in coordination of sensory and motor information — called also pallium; see neocortex