Understanding the Neocortex

• The neocortex is the organ of intelligence.
• The neocortex is responsible for various different cognitive functions, but has no visually obvious divisions.
• The neocortex is connected to the older parts of the brain via nerve fibers.
• Damage to the back of the head results in blindness, and damage to the left side could lead to loss of language.
• The regions are connected to each other with bundles of nerve fibers.
• Some of the connections between the regions are hierarchical, suggesting that information flows from region to region in an orderly fashion, like a flowchart. But there are other connections between the regions that seem to have little order, suggesting that information goes all over at once.

Explore the functions and connections of the neocortex, the seat of intelligence in the brain. Learn about its role in cognitive functions, its connections to other brain regions, and the impact of damage to different areas.