New cortex (synonyms: neocortex , isocortex ; lat. Neocortex ) - new areas of the cerebral cortex , which in lower mammals are only outlined, and in humans comprise the bulk of the cortex. The new cortex is located in the upper layer of the hemispheres of the brain, has a thickness of 2-4 millimeters and is responsible for higher nervous functions - sensory perception, execution of motor commands , conscious thinking and, in people, speech.
The English anthropologist Robin Dunbar found that the size of the neocortex linearly correlates with the number of ongoing permanent social connections (see Dunbar Number ).
Content
Anatomy
The new cortex contains two main types of neurons: pyramidal neurons (~ 80% of neurons of the new cortex) and interstitial neurons (~ 20% of neurons of the new cortex).
The structure of the new cortex is relatively homogeneous (hence the alternative name: "isocortex"). In humans, it has six horizontal layers of neurons that differ in the type and nature of the connections. Vertically, neurons are combined into so-called cortex columns . At the beginning of the 20th century, Broadman showed that in all mammals, the new cortex has 6 horizontal layers of neurons. [one]
Principle of Operation
A fundamentally new theory of the algorithm of the new cortex was developed in Menlo Park, California, USA (Silicon Valley), by Jeff Hawkins . The theory of hierarchical temporary memory was implemented programmatically in the form of a computer algorithm, which is available for use under the license on the site numenta.com.
- The same algorithm processes all the senses.
- The function of the neuron is the memory in time, a kind of causal relationships hierarchically stacking into larger and larger objects from smaller ones.
Functions
The neocortex is embryo derived from the dorsal cerebrum , which is part of the forebrain . The neocortex is divided into areas delimited by cranial sutures, which perform different functions. For example, the occipital lobe contains the primary visual cortex , and the temporal lobe contains the primary auditory cortex. Further divisions or areas of the neocortex are responsible for more specific cognitive processes . In humans, the frontal lobe contains areas devoted to abilities that are enhanced or unique to our species, such as complex language processing localized in the prefrontal cortex [2] . In humans and other primates, social and emotional processing is localized in the orbitofrontal cortex .
Neocortex has been shown to play an important role in sleep, memory, and learning. Semantic memories are apparently stored in the neocortex, in particular, in the anterolateral temporal lobe of the neocortex. The neocortex is also responsible for transmitting sensory information to the basal nuclei . The frequency of neuron pulsation in the neocortex also affects slow sleep [3] .
The role that the neocortex plays in neurological processes that are directly related to human behavior is not yet fully understood. To understand the role of the neocortex in human cognition of the world, a computer model of the brain was created that simulated the electrochemistry of the neocortex - “Blue Brain project” (Blue Brain Project) “The Blue Brain Project”. The project was created to improve understanding of the processes of perception, learning, memory and to obtain additional knowledge about mental disorders [4] .
See also
- Ancient bark
- Old bark
- Dunbar number
- Animal intelligence
- Blue brain project
Notes
- ↑ The Human Nervous System: Structure and Function. - Sixth. - Totowa, NJ: Humana Press, 2005 .-- ISBN 1-59259-730-0 .
- ↑ Noback CR, Strominger NL, Demarest RJ, Ruggiero DA. The Human Nervous System: Structure and Function (Sixth ed.). - 2005. - ISBN 1-59259-730-0 ..
- ↑ Carlson, Neil. Physiology of Psychology (Eleventh ed.). - Pearson, 2013 .-- ISBN 978-0-205-239481 ..
- ↑ Kiryn Haslinger. Big Blue's Neocortex (Eng.) // Scientific American Mind. - Vol. 16 , iss. 3 . - P. 7–7 . - DOI : 10.1038 / scientificamericanmind1005-7a .