Cortical column

Cortical column

File:Cortical column.png

A diagram showing the organization of a cortical column

A cortical column, also known as a hypercolumn, macrocolumn or cortical module, is a group of neurons in the cerebral cortex of the brain that can be successively penetrated by a probe inserted perpendicularly to the cortical surface, and which have nearly identical receptive fields.

Structure

Cortical columns span all six layers of the cortex and are composed of mini-columns, each containing approximately 80-120 neurons. These mini-columns are thought to be the basic functional units of the cortex, with each mini-column processing a single aspect of a sensory stimulus, such as the orientation of a line in the visual field.

Function

The function of cortical columns is not fully understood, but they are believed to play a key role in information processing within the brain. Each column is thought to represent a discrete piece of information, such as a color or a shape, and the columns work together to create a complete representation of the sensory world.

Clinical significance

Abnormalities in cortical column structure or function have been implicated in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, autism, and epilepsy.

See also

• Neocortex
• Brain
• Neuron
• Cerebral cortex

References

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