The cerebral cortex is the thin, folded sheet of grey matter, 2-4 mm thick, that covers the cerebral hemispheres. Folding into gyri and sulci packs a surface area of roughly 2,000 square centimetres into the skull, with about two thirds hidden inside the sulci. Most of it is six-layered neocortex, with older three-layered cortex in the hippocampus and olfactory areas.
| Location | Outer surface layer of both cerebral hemispheres, covered by pia mater |
|---|---|
| Parts |
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| Connections |
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| Blood Supply | Anterior cerebral artery; Middle cerebral artery; Posterior cerebral artery |
Performs the highest level of neural processing: conscious perception, voluntary motor control, language, memory, attention, reasoning and decision making.
Cortical lesions produce characteristic signs such as aphasia, apraxia, visual field defects or neglect, while seizures almost always start in the cortex. Cortical atrophy is seen in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer disease. Brodmann's map, based on cell layering, divides the cortex into about 52 areas and is still used to name functional regions.
Recurrent seizures from abnormal synchronised firing of cortical neurons, with symptoms that reflect the cortical region involved.
Progressive loss of memory, language and other cortical functions, as in Alzheimer disease or frontotemporal dementia.
Abnormal development of cortical layers, a common cause of drug-resistant epilepsy in children.
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