Neocortex | |
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Identifiers | |
MeSH | Neocortex |
NeuroNames | ancil-754 |
NeuroLex ID | Neocortex |
Dorlands /Elsevier |
n_03/ |
TA | A14.1.09.304 |
FMA | 62429 |
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy
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The neocortex, also called the neopallium and isocortex, is the part of the mammalian brain involved in higher-order brain functions such as sensory perception, cognition, generation of motor commands,spatial reasoning and language.
There are two types of cortex in the neocortex – the true isocortex and the proisocortex.
In the human brain, the neocortex is the largest part of the cerebral cortex which is the outer layer of the cerebrum, with the allocortex making up the rest. The neocortex is made up of six layers, labelled from the outermost inwards, I to VI. Of all the mammals studied to date (including humans), oceanic dolphins known as a long-finned pilot whales have been found to have the most neocortical neurons.
Neocortex is Latin for "new bark" or "new ". Neopallium means "new mantle" and isocortex means "equal rind".
The neocortex is the most developed in its organisation and number of layers, of the cerebral tissues. The neocortex consists of the grey matter, or neuronal cell bodies and unmyelinated fibers, surrounding the deeper white matter (myelinated axons) in the cerebrum. This is a very thin layer though, about 2–4 mm thick. There are two types of cortex in the neocortex, the proisocortex and the true isocortex. The pro-isocortex is a transitional area between the true isocortex, and the periallocortex (part of the allocortex). It is found in the cingulate cortex (part of the limbic system), in Brodmann's areas 24, 25, 30 and 32, the insula and the parahippocampal gyrus.