Learn about the anatomy and functions of the cerebral cortex, the outer grey matter layer of the cerebral hemispheres. The cerebral cortex is divided into six lobes, has a columnar organization, and is involved in various cognitive and sensory processes. The cerebral cortex consists of neural tissue (grey matter) holding approximately 15 billion neurons, allowing processes such as consciousness, attention, perception, emotions, thought, language, and memory. The cerebral cortex is merely a few millimeters thick yet contains 14 to 16 billion nerve cells. The cerebral cortex is the largest and most developed part of the human brain and central nervous system. The cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of the brain, composed of folded gray matter. It plays a crucial role in various complex cognitive processes including thought, perception, language, memory, attention, consciousness, and advanced motor functions.
