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The cerebral cortex is essential for memory, attention, awareness, thought, language and consciousness. There outer layers of the cerebrum are made up of grey matter. Grey matter is formed by neurons and their unmyelinated fibres. The white matter below the grey matter of the cortex is formed predominantly by myelinated axons (myelin is white in appearance). The surface of the cerebral cortex is folded in mammals; more than two thirds of the surface is within the grooves or ''"sulci"''. The cerebral cortex is connected to structures such as the thalamus and the basal ganglia, sending information to them along ''efferent'' connections and receiving information from them via ''afferent'' connections. Most sensory information is routed to the cerebral cortex via the thalamus. The cortex is commonly described as comprising of three parts; sensory, motor and association areas.
 
The cerebral cortex is essential for memory, attention, awareness, thought, language and consciousness. There outer layers of the cerebrum are made up of grey matter. Grey matter is formed by neurons and their unmyelinated fibres. The white matter below the grey matter of the cortex is formed predominantly by myelinated axons (myelin is white in appearance). The surface of the cerebral cortex is folded in mammals; more than two thirds of the surface is within the grooves or ''"sulci"''. The cerebral cortex is connected to structures such as the thalamus and the basal ganglia, sending information to them along ''efferent'' connections and receiving information from them via ''afferent'' connections. Most sensory information is routed to the cerebral cortex via the thalamus. The cortex is commonly described as comprising of three parts; sensory, motor and association areas.
 
====Sensory areas====
 
====Sensory areas====
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[[Image:homonculus.png|thumb|right|200px|''Homonculus'' (Human), btarski, 2006, WikiMedia Commons]]
 
The sensory areas are the areas that receive and process information from the senses. Inputs from the thalamus are called ''primary sensory areas''. Vision, hearing, and touch are processed by the primary visual cortex, primary auditory cortex and primary somatosensory cortex. The two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex receive information from the opposite (contralateral) side of the body. Areas with lots of sensory innervation, such as the fingertips and the lips, require more cortical area to process finer sensation. The ''association areas'' of the brain function to produce a perception of the world enabling an animal to interact with their environment effectively.
 
The sensory areas are the areas that receive and process information from the senses. Inputs from the thalamus are called ''primary sensory areas''. Vision, hearing, and touch are processed by the primary visual cortex, primary auditory cortex and primary somatosensory cortex. The two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex receive information from the opposite (contralateral) side of the body. Areas with lots of sensory innervation, such as the fingertips and the lips, require more cortical area to process finer sensation. The ''association areas'' of the brain function to produce a perception of the world enabling an animal to interact with their environment effectively.
 
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There are a number of anatomical areas of the brain responsible for organising this sensory information. The ''parietal lobe'' is located within the dorsocaudal aspect of the cortex. The ''temporal lobes'' are located laterally and the ''occipital lobes'' are located in the caudal most aspect of the cortex. The ''frontal lobe'' or ''prefrontal association complex'' is involved in planning actions and movement.
 
There are a number of anatomical areas of the brain responsible for organising this sensory information. The ''parietal lobe'' is located within the dorsocaudal aspect of the cortex. The ''temporal lobes'' are located laterally and the ''occipital lobes'' are located in the caudal most aspect of the cortex. The ''frontal lobe'' or ''prefrontal association complex'' is involved in planning actions and movement.
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====Motor Cortex====
 
====Motor Cortex====
 
The ''motor cortex'' areas of the brain are located in both hemispheres of the cortex and are shaped like a pair of headphones stretching from ear to ear. The motor areas are related to controlling voluntary movements, especially fine movements.
 
The ''motor cortex'' areas of the brain are located in both hemispheres of the cortex and are shaped like a pair of headphones stretching from ear to ear. The motor areas are related to controlling voluntary movements, especially fine movements.
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