neocortex
|ne-o-cor-tex|
🇺🇸
/ˌniː.oʊˈkɔːr.tɛks/
🇬🇧
/ˌniː.əʊˈkɔː.teks/
new outer layer of the cerebral cortex
Etymology
'neocortex' originates from New Latin/modern scientific coinage, combining the prefix 'neo-' from Greek 'neos' meaning 'new' and Latin 'cortex' meaning 'bark' or 'rind' (used metaphorically for the brain's outer layer).
'neocortex' was formed in modern scientific/medical terminology (19th–20th century) from the elements 'neo-' + 'cortex' and entered English usage as the technical name for the evolutionarily newer part of the cerebral cortex.
Initially a literal formation meaning 'new bark' (i.e., new outer layer), it evolved into the specific anatomical term for the most recently evolved cortical region responsible for higher cognitive functions.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the part of the mammalian cerebral cortex that is the most recently evolved, typically six-layered, and is involved in higher-order brain functions such as sensory perception, cognition, generation of motor commands, spatial reasoning, and language.
Damage to the neocortex can impair language and complex problem-solving.
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Noun 2
the neocortical sheet or surface of the cerebral hemispheres distinguished from older cortical regions (used in anatomical and evolutionary contexts).
Comparative studies show expansion of the neocortex in many mammalian lineages.
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Last updated: 2026/01/11 21:46