neocortex

[ nee-oh-kawr-teks ]

noun

, plural ne·o·cor·ti·ces [nee-oh-, kawr, -t, uh, -seez].

1. the largest and evolutionarily most recent portion of the cerebral cortex, composed of complex, layered tissue, the site of most of the higher brain functions.

Other Words From

• ne·o·cor·ti·cal [nee-oh-, kawr, -ti-k, uh, l], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of neocortex¹

First recorded in 1905–10; neo- + cortex

Example Sentences

The really big brain changes were to come in the neocortex, which is responsible for visual processing, memory and motor control, among other skills.

From Science News

There he and his team study the neocortex, the part of the brain responsible for everything we associate with intelligence.

From MIT Technology Review