neocortex

American  

[nee-oh-kawr-teks] / ˌni oʊˈkɔr tɛks /

noun

neocortices plural

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• neocortical
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• neocortices
  plural

Etymology

Origin of neocortex

First recorded in 1905–10; neo- + cortex

Compare meaning

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

• neocortex vs. cerebral cortex

Example Sentences

“Horses think through energy and pictures,” said Ebsen, meaning they communicate through pure expression, one unfiltered by the neocortex.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2025

Prior to this research, scientists already understood that each night, memories transfer from short-term storage in the hippocampus to long-term storage in the neocortex during slow-wave sleep.

From Salon • Dec. 17, 2024

The neocortex, a critical structure for human intelligence, is less than five millimeters thick.

From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2024

The neocortex in particular expanded during this time, since this region of the brain controls higher-order brain functions including language, motor commands, sensory perception and spatial reasoning.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2024

If you plug in the neocortex ratio for Homo sapiens, you get a group estimate of 147.8 — or roughly 150.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell