has soma location has soma location neuron cerebral cortex neuron neuron of cerebral cortex cortical neuron FMA:84104 cerebral cortex neuron A CNS neuron of the cerebral cortex. A cerebral cortex neuron, also known as a cortical neuron, is a unique type of cell found in the cerebral cortex, which is the outer covering of the brain. This region is critical to cognitive functions, sensory input processes, memory formation, attention, and consciousness. These neurons are one of the most abundant cell type in the cortex and allow for the intricate capabilities of the human brain due to their diverse characteristics and complex connectivity. The primary function of cortical neurons is to manage and interpret the sensory input being received by the brain, generating suitable motor output responses. They play a critical role in processing information and communication within the brain. These neurons are involved in the exchange of direct synaptic communication with thousands of other neurons. Due to the wide extent of their dendritic and axonal arbors, these neurons present a broad receptive field for incoming information and an expansive projecting field to convey integrated information. Cortical neurons further define the functional structure of the cerebral cortex by their type and connection. They can be broken down into two categories: excitatory projection neurons and inhibitory interneurons. The excitatory projection neurons are the principal neurons of the cerebral cortex and utilize glutamate as a neurotransmitter. They form the connections between the cerebral cortex and other brain regions, hence their tag as "projection" neurons. Conversely, inhibitory interneurons are local to the cerebral cortex and use gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as a neurotransmitter, serving to regulate the activity of the projection neurons. Through these intricate interconnections, cerebral cortex neurons play a significant role in the higher cognitive functions of the human brain. (This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.) https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/cellguide/CL_0010012 BTO:0004102 https://github.com/obophenotype/cell-ontology/issues/1359 neuron of the forebrain cerebral cortex