ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cortex

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈkɔɹtɛks// UK //kˈɔːtɛks// cor·tex

n. the outer layer of an organ in the body, especially the brain. It is the part that handles complex tasks like thinking and processing what you see.

n. the outer layer of an internal organ or structure, most notably the cerebral cortex of the brain. It consists of grey matter and plays a critical role in consciousness, thought, and memory.


SIMPLE

The cerebral cortex is responsible for high-level thinking.

CONTEXTUAL

Scientists use advanced imaging to study how the visual cortex processes information from the eyes.

COMPLEX

Damage to the prefrontal cortex can result in significant changes to a person's personality and their ability to make complex decisions or control social impulses.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Latin cortex (“cork, bark”).

Usage

Often used with a specific modifier (e.g., 'cerebral', 'adrenal', 'renal') to identify the organ being discussed.

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