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White matter is composed of bundles, which connect various grey matter areas (the locations of nerve cell bodies) of the brain to each other, and carry nerve impulses between neurons. Myelin acts as an insulator, which allows electrical signals to jump , rather than coursing through the axon, increasing the speed of transmission of all nerve ...
Grey matter contains most of the brain's neuronal cell bodies. [6] The grey matter includes regions of the brain involved in muscle control, and sensory perception such as seeing and hearing, memory, emotions, speech, decision-making, and self-control. The grey matter in the spinal cord is split into three grey columns:
The cortical layers of neurons constitute much of the cerebral grey matter, while the deeper subcortical regions of myelinated axons, make up the white matter. [7] The white matter of the brain makes up about half of the total brain volume. [16]
Dissection of a human brain with labels showing the clear division between white and gray matter. Microscopically, there are differences between the neurons and tissue of the CNS and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). [11] The CNS is composed of white and gray matter. [9] This can also be seen macroscopically on brain tissue.
Decreased white matter integrity effects proper transmission and processing of sensorimotor information. White matter degeneration of the genu of the corpus callosum is also associated with gait, balance impairment, and the quality of postural control.
The periaqueductal gray (PAG), also known as the central gray, is a brain region that plays a critical role in autonomic function, motivated behavior and behavioural responses to threatening stimuli. [1] [2] PAG is also the primary control center for descending pain modulation. It has enkephalin-producing cells that suppress pain.
Many of the short association fibers (also called arcuate or "U"-fibers) lie in the superficial white matter immediately beneath the gray matter of the cerebral cortex, and connect together adjacent gyri. [2] Some pass from one wall of the sulcus to the other. [3]
This allows researchers to quantify anatomical features of the brain in terms of shape, mass, volume (e.g. of the hippocampus, or of the primary versus secondary visual cortex), and to derive more specific information, such as the encephalization quotient, grey matter density and white matter connectivity, gyrification, cortical thickness, or ...