neocortex

American  

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

noun

plural

neocortices

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

• neocortical adjective

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

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

For this study, the researchers obtained six developing human neocortex tissue samples representing the mid-gestation period, or 15 to 17 weeks post-conception.

From Science Daily

Simultaneously they measured the activity of the parietal cortex, a part of neocortex that sends inputs to the entorhinal cortex.

From Science Daily

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

From Science Daily

The study particularly focused on the neocortex, a brain area responsible for perception and a range of complex functions such learning.

From Science Daily