Definition Connections between neurons within and between cerebro-cortical areas. Characteristics Cortical Architecture and Processing

Every thought, every idea, every memory, every decision, and every action we have to make, arise from the activity of neurons in our brains. The results of some of this activity surround us: household objects, books, technology and art. Of all brain structures, the, which forms over 80 % of the volume of the human brain is, arguably, the most criticalneocortex to what makes us human. This is a paradox, because the basic local architecture of the neocortex in all mammals, from mouse to man, appears to be very similar and is determined by the laminar distribution of relatively few types of excitatory and inhibitory neurons organized according to common principles of connectivity. These local circuits are organized in a framework of a six-layered columnar architecture, in which neurons with functional properties in common lie in discrete layers and in vertical slabs or columns [ ] ().1 Striate cortex functions The uniformity of its construction suggests that the neocortex provides circuits that are optimized for a class of cortical "algorithm " that can be implemented for the full range of demands of behavior, including perception, cognition, and action. A number of models indicate the forms of general computation that could be carried out in a uniform cortical architecture. Typically these models address a single principle of operation in a small group of neurons; in others a more detailed model is imposed on the columnar architecture of cortex. Experimental results in alert behaving primates and together with theoretical studies, suggest that cognitive operations proceed very rapidly across different cortical areas (Cerebro-cortical areas; ) by feedforward and feedback modulation, with slowerExtrastriate visual cortex categorization refinement by lateral local interactions. Specification of local and long-distance connections in the cortex will go some way to explaining the implementation of these processes