subcortical

adjective

sub·​cor·​ti·​cal ˌsəb-ˈkȯr-ti-kəl 

: of, relating to, involving, or being a part of the brain below the cerebral cortex

subcortical lesions

Examples of subcortical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The study only examined subcortical brain areas; obsessions may be more strongly represented in cortical areas, which weren’t measured here. —New Atlas, 3 Aug. 2025

Forgetfulness: Parkinson’s disease can be associated with a type of dementia called subcortical dementia. —Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 28 July 2025

In subcortical areas, there also appears to be a supercluster of cells called splatter neurons that control innate behaviors and physiological functions. —Popular Science, 12 Oct. 2023

Grundy and his team have developed something called the bilingual anterior to posterior and subcortical shift model. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subcortical

• adrenocortical
• thalamocortical
• cortical
• vortical
• neocortical

Medical Definition

subcortical

adjective

sub·​cor·​ti·​cal -ˈkȯrt-i-kəl 

: of, relating to, involving, or being nerve centers below the cerebral cortex

subcortical lesions

subcortical sensation

subcortically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb