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white matter
noun
: neural tissue especially of the brain and spinal cord that consists largely of myelinated nerve fibers bundled into tracts, has a whitish color, and typically underlies the cortical gray matter
Examples of white matter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Two other key areas — white matter, which contains connective fibers and delivers nerve signals, and the hippocampus, which processes memory – have also grown between 5.7% to 7.7%.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
The increase in white matter suggests that brain cells are more interconnected, DeCarli said.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
This neuroinflammation has been associated with changes in cerebral gray and white matter tissue.
—Lauryn Higgins, Health, 16 Apr. 2024
Learning a new skill can impact a person’s white matter—the bundles of nerve fibers that connect different parts of the brain and help with focusing and learning function.
—Didi Gluck, Vogue, 7 Dec. 2023
While some researchers have detected structural white matter changes in the brain, Gore said the method is not yet legitimate or reliable in a clinical setting.
—Melissa Chan, NBC News, 17 Mar. 2024
Analyzing the scans, researchers noticed that the participants with PCOS had significantly reduced integrity of the white matter in their brains.
—Julia Daye, Miami Herald, 2 Feb. 2024
The authors also found, via brain scans, that compared with those without PCOS, 25 people with the condition had white matter in poorer condition, which can be an indicator of brain aging.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 31 Jan. 2024
While some of the people in the juggling group got better at the skill than others, everyone in the group showed changes in their white matter as a result of learning the new skill.
—Didi Gluck, Vogue, 7 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'white matter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1674, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near white matter
Cite this Entry
“White matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white%20matter. Accessed 13 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
white matter
noun
: whitish nerve tissue especially of the brain and spinal cord that consists largely of nerve fibers enclosed in a fatty material and that lies under the gray matter
Medical Definition
white matter
noun
: neural tissue especially of the brain and spinal cord that consists largely of myelinated nerve fibers bundled into tracts, has a whitish color, and typically underlies the gray matter
More from Merriam-Webster on white matter
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about white matter
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