corticocortical

Corticocortical refers to connections and interactions between different regions of the cerebral cortex. This term is used to describe the network of white matter pathways that link cortical areas within a hemisphere (ipsilateral) and, through interhemispheric tracts, across the two hemispheres.

Anatomy and pathways commonly involved include long-range association tracts such as the superior longitudinal fasciculus, arcuate fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, uncinate fasciculus, and the cingulum, as well as short-range U-fibers that connect neighboring gyri. The corpus callosum is the primary conduit for contralateral corticocortical connections, enabling interhemispheric communication. Corticocortical fibers originate mainly from pyramidal neurons in cortical layers II/III and V and are predominantly excitatory glutamatergic projections that modulate activity across distant cortical areas.

Functionally, corticocortical connections support the integration of information across sensory, motor, and association networks. They underlie higher cognitive processes such as language, memory, attention, and executive function, and participate in the coordination of perception and action through feedforward and feedback interactions and synchronized neural oscillations.

Clinically, disruption of corticocortical pathways can contribute to disconnection syndromes after stroke or trauma, and alterations in these networks have been implicated in various neuropsychiatric conditions. The term contrasts with corticothalamic and thalamocortical pathways, which link the cortex with the thalamus.