The cerebral cortex, which is responsible for language, senses, thinking and reasoning as well as other functions and abilities, begins to develop soon after conception. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that "most of the actual information processing in the brain takes place in the cerebral cortex." This part of the brain also develops in response to experience. Injury or improper formations can lead to a variety of issues, including disease, loss of memory and motor skills, and developmental and learning delays.
Function
Healthy development of the cerebral cortex aids in problem solving, showing appropriate emotions, muscular coordination, sight, hearing, sense of touch, smell, taste and language and speech. Proper brain development enables a person to perform these important functions correctly and efficiently.
Formation
Neurons in the cerebral cortex begin to form at 6 to 18 weeks after conception. There are four lobes contained within this brain area, and they work together to control the functions involved with it. Myelin is also being generated during gestation. This substance surrounds the neurons and Brain Development says that "myelin begins to form around neurons before birth and continues to do so even into adulthood in some areas of the cortex." It's important to keep the brain healthy throughout life. Synapses also form at this time in the cerebral cortex, providing the means of communication by which the neurons will control its associated functions.
Neurons
Neurons are how the brain communicates information to the body. When neurons function correctly, the brain is able to solve problems, control emotions, coordinate movement, use the senses and understand and reproduce language. Neuronal activity is important as the cerebral cortex develops, because some parts of the brain can aid in the growth of other parts, even before a person is born. "Instead, it appears that one part of the nervous system can create a kind of 'virtual environment' specifically to aid in the formation of other, later developing parts," says Brain Development. In other words, proper formation in the brain early on can lead to healthy development in the cerebral cortex throughout life.
Experience
Experience can also play a part in healthy cerebral cortex growth. Brain Development states that, "Once a baby is born, the external world can begin to influence the activity of neurons and thereby the pattern of brain development." As a person ages, the useful synapses, or the ones used regularly, are kept while the ones that aren't used much are eliminated. For example, a deaf person will eliminate the synapses responsible for hearing, while honing the ones used for the remaining senses. There are critical periods in which a person will best learn something and deprivation at this time can lead to disordered or delayed development in that area of learning.
Disorders
Improper neuronal development in the cerebral cortex can lead to many problems. Besides abnormal development, injury to the brain can also disrupt the healthy firing of neurons. Both of these instances can lead to muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, dementia, epilepsy and problems with normal function of the senses. Additionally, speech and language, emotions and problem solving can be affected. Abnormal development in the cerebral cortex can also contribute to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
