About 80% of the brain's volume is comprised of the cerebral cortex.
Understanding the Cerebral Cortex
The cerebral cortex is a crucial part of the brain, responsible for higher-level cognitive functions. It's the wrinkly outer layer of the brain and plays a vital role in:
- Perception: How we interpret sensory information.
- Thought: Complex thinking processes.
- Language: Our ability to understand and produce speech.
- Attention: Focusing on specific stimuli or tasks.
- Memory: Storing and retrieving information.
The Importance of the Cerebral Cortex
Because it makes up such a significant portion of the brain, and is responsible for so many cognitive functions, the health and function of the cerebral cortex are critical.
| Brain Part | Percentage of Brain Volume | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Cerebral Cortex | ~80% | Perception, thought, language, attention, and memory. |
| Other Brain Areas | ~20% | Include cerebellum, brain stem, etc., responsible for motor control, autonomic functions, and other processes. |
