cerebral cortex

noun

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

Examples of cerebral cortex in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This enigmatic process appears to be controlled by the thalamus, a central region of the brain already known for its function as a filter between sensory signals and the cerebral cortex, the portion of the brain that governs higher-level processes such as memory, thought, and personality. Jorge Garay, Wired News, 19 Apr. 2025 Birds don’t have a cerebral cortex—at least, not in the same way that humans do. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025 The cerebral cortex plays a crucial role in cognition, social interaction and emotional regulation. Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2025 Overall, the athletes had a thicker cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain that’s responsible for cognition. Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cerebral cortex

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cerebral cortex was in 1853

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Cite this Entry

“Cerebral cortex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cerebral%20cortex. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

cerebral cortex

noun
: 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

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