subcortical
Under brain's surface
Subcortical describes brain structures located beneath the cerebral cortex—the outer layer responsible for higher thinking.
Subcortical regions handle more fundamental functions: movement, emotion, memory, and automatic responses.
The subcortical damage affected his motor control.
The term appears in neuroscience and clinical contexts discussing conditions like Parkinson's disease or stroke.
Emotion-processing brain cluster
- basal gangliaSubcortical motor-control nuclei
- thalamusBrain's signal switchboard
- hypothalamusSubthalamic regulatory brain region
- brainstemLower neural trunk
midbrain · limbic system · caudate · hippocampus · superior colliculus · inferior colliculus · claustrum · mammillary bodies
Pale neural fiber tissue
- grey matterNeuronal cell body tissue
- neural pathwaysBrain's communication routes
- neurotransmittersChemical neural messengers
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
serotonin · synapse · axon · dendrite · myelin · neurons · neuroanatomy · neuromodulation
Emotion-processing brain cluster
- fear responseReaction to perceived danger
- emotional processingHandling feelings internally
- rewardPayment for service
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
affect · arousal · pleasure · anxiety · aggression · attachment · bonding · emotional memory
Involuntary stimulus response
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
- autonomicSelf-regulating without awareness
- heartbeatRhythmic cardiac contraction
respiration · homeostasis · blink · swallow · pupil dilation · startle response · gag reflex · thermoregulation
amygdala
Emotion-processing brain cluster
- basal gangliaSubcortical motor-control nuclei
- thalamusBrain's signal switchboard
- hypothalamusSubthalamic regulatory brain region
brainstem · midbrain · limbic system · caudate · hippocampus · superior colliculus · inferior colliculus · claustrum · mammillary bodies · periaqueductal gray
white matter
Pale neural fiber tissue
- grey matterNeuronal cell body tissue
- neural pathwaysBrain's communication routes
- neurotransmittersChemical neural messengers
dopamine · serotonin · synapse · axon · dendrite · myelin · neurons · neuroanatomy · neuromodulation · deep brain stimulation
amygdala
Emotion-processing brain cluster
- fear responseReaction to perceived danger
- emotional processingHandling feelings internally
- rewardPayment for service
motivation · affect · arousal · pleasure · anxiety · aggression · attachment · bonding · emotional memory · threat detection
reflex
Involuntary stimulus response
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
- autonomicSelf-regulating without awareness
heartbeat · respiration · homeostasis · blink · swallow · pupil dilation · startle response · gag reflex · thermoregulation · blood pressure
subcorticalcortical
Of an outer layer
superficial · cortex · neocortical · surface · outer
cortex, cortical, neocortex, corticosteroid, decorticate, cortices, corticoid, motor cortex, visual cortex