Cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex is the layer of gray matter on the outside of the cerebrum. It has ridges and grooves

• gyrus/gyri

• sulcus/sulci - small groove

• fissures - large grooves

• primary cotrex: basic motor or sensory function

• association cortex: associating dif types of info to carry out more advanced functions ex planning movement, integrating info, producing higher functions

• language is usually performed in the left hemisphere, though some people have language function in both sides or the right

• attention: right side = paying attention in body and environment

The cerebral cortex is divided into lobes

• frontal

• Parietal

• temporal

• occipital

visual information coming in on one side of the brain is processed on the opposite side. The same is true for somatosensory information and motor information.

for the other senses, the information is processed on both sides of the brain.