neocortex
noun
neo·cor·tex
ˌnē-ō-ˈkȯr-ˌteks 
: the large 6-layered dorsal region of the cerebral cortex that is unique to mammals
broadly
: the mammalian cerebral cortex
Examples of neocortex in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The human brain is very different from the brain of a lamprey, but in both species the neocortex—the outer layers of the brain—is divided into two mirror-image hemispheres.
—
Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2014
After three to five weeks, the team would collect PET scans of the synapses in each person’s neocortex and hippocampus.
—WIRED, 26 Oct. 2023
These experiments have identified regions in the neocortex, the outer surface of the brain just underneath the skull, that are critically involved in consciously seeing and hearing things.
—Christof Kochgiulio Tononi, IEEE Spectrum, 25 May 2017
One prediction is that a nearly silent neocortex, in which few neurons are actively firing, has conscious experiences.
—Christof Kochgiulio Tononi, IEEE Spectrum, 25 May 2017
The absence of a neocortex does not appear to preclude an organism from experiencing affective states.
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2012
Later, this data is sometimes transferred to the neocortex — the thin tissue that forms the brain’s outer layer — for long-term storage.
—Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 14 June 2020
The workspace is a network of cortical neurons in the front of the brain, with long-range projections to similar neurons distributed all over the neocortex in prefrontal, parietotemporal and cingulate associative cortices.
—Christof Koch, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2023
Molaison’s symptoms helped scientists discover that new memories first formed in the hippocampus and then were gradually transferred to the neocortex.
—Saugat Bolakhe, Quanta Magazine, 30 Aug. 2023
Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2014
After three to five weeks, the team would collect PET scans of the synapses in each person’s neocortex and hippocampus.
—WIRED, 26 Oct. 2023
These experiments have identified regions in the neocortex, the outer surface of the brain just underneath the skull, that are critically involved in consciously seeing and hearing things.
—Christof Kochgiulio Tononi, IEEE Spectrum, 25 May 2017
One prediction is that a nearly silent neocortex, in which few neurons are actively firing, has conscious experiences.
—Christof Kochgiulio Tononi, IEEE Spectrum, 25 May 2017
The absence of a neocortex does not appear to preclude an organism from experiencing affective states.
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2012
Later, this data is sometimes transferred to the neocortex — the thin tissue that forms the brain’s outer layer — for long-term storage.
—Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 14 June 2020
The workspace is a network of cortical neurons in the front of the brain, with long-range projections to similar neurons distributed all over the neocortex in prefrontal, parietotemporal and cingulate associative cortices.
—Christof Koch, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2023
Molaison’s symptoms helped scientists discover that new memories first formed in the hippocampus and then were gradually transferred to the neocortex.
—Saugat Bolakhe, Quanta Magazine, 30 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neocortex.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near neocortex
Cite this Entry
“Neocortex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neocortex. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
neocortex
noun
neo·cor·tex
ˌnē-ō-ˈkȯr-ˌteks
plural neocortices
-ˈkȯrt-ə-ˌsēz
or neocortexes
or neocortexes
: the large 6-layered dorsal region of the cerebral cortex that is unique to mammals
broadly
: the mammalian cerebral cortex
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