neocortex

[ nee-oh-kawr-teks ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural ne·o·cor·ti·ces [nee-oh-, kawr, -t, uh, -seez].

the largest and evolutionarily most recent portion of the cerebral cortex, composed of complex, layered tissue, the site of most of the higher brain functions.

First recorded in 1905–10; neo- + cortex

How does neocortex compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

The really big brain changes were to come in the neocortex, which is responsible for visual processing, memory and motor control, among other skills.

There he and his team study the neocortex, the part of the brain responsible for everything we associate with intelligence.

Browse