Neocortex

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The neocortex is the multisensory and motor part of the cerebral cortex of mammals . The terms archicortex (including the hippocampus ) and paleocortex (including the olfactory bulb) are used to delimit this . The cortex (Latin: cortex) is the outer gray layer of the cerebral cortex that surrounds the white matter . Together with the underlying medullary bed , the neocortex forms the neopallium .

The term neocortex was coined by the Frankfurt neurologist Ludwig Edinger (1855–1918). In the early 20th century, the neurologist Korbinian Brodmann showed that the neocortex develops from six layers in all mammals. In humans, the neocortex forms the majority (around 90%) of the cerebral cortex (the surface of the cerebrum ), including the representations of sensory impressions (sensory areas), the motor cortex responsible for movements, and the extensive association centers .

The view that the neocortex is genetically "young" is widespread . However, this is difficult to prove, because mammals split off from the rest of the amniotes at an early stage . It was also long assumed that mammals have the most developed brain. However, other amniotic animals also have a neopallium in which the gray matter is organized in ganglia. As far as we know today, the neopallium of birds is similar to that of mammals in terms of complexity and performance.

See also

  • Blue Brain : Project with the aim of simulating the neocortex on a cellular level

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Nieuwenhuys, R., Voogd, J., and van Huijzen, C. (2008). The human central nervous system. Springer, Berlin, 4th edition.
  2. ↑ Wolfgang Kühnel: Pocket Atlas of Anatomy . tape 3 . Georg Thieme, Stuttgart 2009, ISBN 978-3-13-492210-3 , p. 208 .
  3. ^ Brodmann, K. (1909). Comparative localization theory of the cerebral cortex; presented in their principles due to the cell structure. Joh. Ambrosius Barth, Leipzig.
  4. ^ The Avian Brain Nomenclature Consortium (2005) Avian brains and a new understanding of vertebrate brain evolution. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. , 6: 151-159, doi : 10.1038 / nrn1606 .