nagyagykéreg

The nagyagykéreg, often translated as the cerebral cortex, is the outermost layer of the cerebrum of the brain. It is responsible for higher-level cognitive functions such as consciousness, thought, language, memory, and sensory processing. The cerebral cortex is highly folded, creating gyri (ridges) and sulci (grooves), which significantly increases its surface area. This increased surface area allows for a greater number of neurons, which are the fundamental units of the nervous system.

In humans, the cerebral cortex is divided into two hemispheres, the left and right cerebral hemispheres, connected by a bundle of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum. Each hemisphere is further divided into four lobes: the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and occipital lobe. The frontal lobe is associated with executive functions, planning, and voluntary movement. The parietal lobe processes sensory information like touch, temperature, and pain. The temporal lobe is involved in auditory processing, memory, and language comprehension. The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for visual processing.

The cerebral cortex is composed of gray matter, which consists of neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, and unmyelinated axons. Beneath the gray matter lies white matter, composed of myelinated axons that transmit signals between different brain regions. The complex structure and intricate connections within the cerebral cortex enable the sophisticated mental capabilities that characterize human cognition.