Interesting image, eh? The cerebral cortex is actually the outer portion of your cerebrum, or anterior portion of your forebrain that determines intelligence and personality. It is also divided into the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes. (More of that info can be found here: http://biology.about.com/library/organs/brain/blcortex.htm) Enough of the science, let's get to a more interesting conversation on this, shall we?
Since the cerebral cortex "plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language and consciousness," imagine yourself without one. Yeah, that's right, you would literally be a mindless zombie without the cerebral cortex, and not the flesh-eating type either. The cortex is basically where brain sends its waves to make your body work. This is why we see all those subtle nuances in different people and the way they talk, react and remember things.
In other words, like a zombie, you would be unable to react normally if you lacked a cerebral cortex or had a messed up one. You would practically be brain dead, unconscious, or...dead. My point here is that the brain and its cerebral cortex are more important than you think. Not having one is like walking around in public naked and not even wondering why you didn't put any clothes on. The cerebral cortex is the prime tool in human functionality. That, my friends, is what you should understand.
So what are your thoughts? Do you think the cerebral cortex is the 'prime' tool of human functionality? What do you think a lack of a cerebral cortex would do for you and/or to you? Feel free to comment.
More on the cerebral cortex: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_cortex
but what about the heart? the lungs? our bones!?
ReplyDeletethere are many parts of the body, and all have their vital part. i don't really want to say that the cerebral cortex is the "'prime' tool of human functionality", but i have to agree, it's up there, high on the list (if there actually was one). it's fun to dive deep into body parts, and find out what they do and how they help us.
-daisyfriend
Yes, fun indeed...
ReplyDeleteThat picture does look interesting. I think the cerebral cortex is an important part of human functionality if it controls our individual personalities and our thinking. If we didn't have it or had a defective one, we would probably be like animals wandering around with no purpose in mind.
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