Cerebral cortex

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/cerebral-cortex

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the location?The outermost layer of the cerebrum in the brain
2. What is the key feature?Extensive folding (gyri and sulci) that maximizes surface area and computational power
3. Why does the cerebral cortex look wrinkly?The wrinkles, or gyrification, increase the surface area so more neurons can fit inside the skull. This helps us have advanced thinking skills.
4. How many layers does the cerebral cortex have?The cortex has six layers that form when baby brain cells move outward during development.

Executive Functions: Higher-level cognitive processes including planning, working memory, and inhibitory control, largely mediated by the prefrontal cortex.
Neural Networks: Interconnected groups of neurons that process information and enable complex cognitive functions.
Corticogenesis: The developmental process by which the cerebral cortex is formed during embryonic growth.