How does our brain process information? Why are brains wrinkly? What are lobes?
The answer to these questions lies within the cerebral cortex!
- What is the cerebral cortex?
- What are the important parts of the cerebral cortex?
- What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?
- How does the cerebral cortex work?
Cerebral Cortex Definition
If you look at images of the cortex, you may notice that there are two hemispheres; the area that is designated as the cerebral cortex's outer layer is much darker. This is called the gray matter portion of the brain. This area is also densely packed with many neurons.
The cerebral cortex is the thin outermost layer of the cerebral hemisphere. It is the main control center and information processing unit.
Inside the gray matter area is the white matter portion of the brain, which is mostly myelinated axons that connect cortical neurons to the rest of the nervous system, or cortical neurons in other areas of the cortex (Myers, 2014).
According to Myer's Psychology for AP, the cerebral cortex houses 20 to 23 billion nerve cells that are linked together by 300 trillion synapses (APA). This is a major highway of information. The cerebral cortex is a communicator for many of our functions such as speech, emotion, and understanding visual stimuli.
Parts of the Cerebral Cortex
Have you ever noticed that brains seem to be folded or wrinkled all over? These are called sulci, the inner portions of the folds or wrinkles of the cerebral cortex. The portion that is not inside a fold is called a gyrus.
Deeper folds of the cerebral cortex are considered to be fissures; in these areas, there are visible divisions of the brain. Two such important fissures are the Sylvian fissure, and the parietal-occipital fissure. The outer area of the cortex which is enclosed by joining the central sulcus to the Sylvian fissure is considered the frontal cortex. The second area is defined by joining the Sylvian fissure to the parietal-occipital fissure; this is known as the temporal cortex. The superior area is defined by the Sylvian fissure and the central sulcus, and the parietal-occipital fissure is known as the parietal cortex. Lastly, the remaining posterior area is known as the occipital cortex (Lyons et al., 2014).
Let's take a deeper look at these lobes that make up the cerebral cortex.
Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex
There are four lobes in the cerebral cortex.
Frontal Lobe
The frontal lobe is located in the front of the cortex, behind the forehead. This is the largest of the four lobes. It is in charge of the motor cortex, allowing for control of voluntary movements. Also here is Broca's area, which programs the movements necessary for speaking. The prefrontal cortex, which is important to emotional processing, is also in this space.
Parietal Lobe
The parietal lobe is located at the top and to the back. Its primary job is to help us with our spatial awareness and navigation.
Occipital Lobe
The occipital love is towards the back and the bottom of the brain. Visual stimuli "such as visuospatial processing, color processing, and motion perception" are processed in this region (Barnes, 2013).
Temporal Lobe
The temporal lobe is near the temples or sides of the head. The temporal lobe is in charge of language acquisition and language comprehension. Importantly, emotional and motivational behaviors are controlled in this area, because the hippocampus is here as well.
Functional Regions of the Cerebral Cortex
How do these lobes communicate or send signals?
The cerebral cortex has six important layers that are helpful in communication between both hemispheres. These six layers are packed with nerve cells. The opposite sides of the hemisphere communicate with each other. For example, the left side of the brain communicates to the right side of the body and vice versa.
Four lobes, pixabay.com
These are the six layers, listed from outer to inner layers:
- Molecular layer
- External granular layer
- External pyramidal layer
- Internal granular layer
- Internal pyramidal layer
- Multiform layer
The Cerebral Cortex and Consciousness
Information processing in the cerebral cortex happens at lightning speeds, and on a deep cognitive level of understanding. The functions that take place in the cerebral cortex, such as visual processing and memory, are considered to be more advanced. They distinguish us as human beings from other species of animals.
Interoceptive awareness is the deep conscious awareness of the internal state of one's body; this is an advantage for human beings and is part of advanced consciousness. This is possible because of the copious amounts of information that the cerebral cortex can process, either through memories or the senses.
The Cerebral Cortex - Key takeaways
- The functions that take place in the cerebral cortex, such as visual processing and memory, are considered to be more advanced, and are distinctive factors between human beings and other species of animals.
- The frontal lobe is in charge of emotional processing, voluntary movements, and speaking (a voluntary movement).
- The temporal lobe can be found near the temples or sides of the head.
- The temporal lobe controls language acquisition, language comprehension, and emotional and motivational behaviors.
- The six layers of the cerebral cortex are molecular layer, external granular layer, external pyramidal layer, internal granular layer, internal pyramidal layer, and multiform layer.
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