White matter-rich areas of the brain mainly consist of myelinated axons, which are long relays that extend out from the soma. The cerebral cortex is the primary site of cognition in the brain and is divided into numerous functional areas, including those responsible for memory, reasoning, senses and language. The cerebellum was thought to be mainly involved in fine control of movement, but recent research has established the role it plays in cognition and emotional processing. Gray matter rich areas, such as the cerebellum and cerebral cortex, have important functions in the brain. The soma also houses essential structures that are common to all cells, such as: Synaptic input from neighboring neurons can feed onto the soma. Physically, it the point of the neuron from which other connections, such as axons and dendrites, spread. The neuronal soma, and the organelles and nucleus within, is the control center of the neuron. But the “gray” matter of the living brain, when circulation is still in effect, is actually tan in color. When analyzed postmortem, these cell somas appear gray. The soma also contains the cell’s cytoplasm, in which other essential organelles, such as mitochondria, can be found. This a spherical structure that houses the neuron’s nucleus. Gray matter consists primarily of neuronal cell bodies, or soma. The reverse is true in the spinal cord, which has a grey matter-lined interior with white matter on the outside.ĭifferences between gray and white matter What is gray matter? In the brain, white matter is found closer to the center of the brain, whereas the outer cortex is mainly grey matter. Gray matter is made up of neuronal cell bodies, while white matter primarily consists of myelinated axons. Quick summary: Gray matter vs white matter
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