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- DictionaryGray mat·ter/ˈɡrā ˌmadər/
noun
- 1. the darker tissue of the brain and spinal cord, consisting mainly of nerve cell bodies and branching dendrites.
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Gray matter, also spelled grey matter (British spelling) and also called substantia grisea, is the part of the brain that is controlled by the true dendrites (the short branching fibers that carry messages and impulses to the cell body) and nerve cell bodies (which bring information to the neurons).
- Overview
- Grey Matter vs. White Matter
- What Does Grey Matter in the Brain Do?
- Grey Matter's Impact on Mental Health
- Factors Affecting Grey Matter
- Techniques for Investigating Grey Matter
- How Can I Improve My Brain's Grey Matter?
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Grey matter is a key component of the brain’s neural tissue. It’s found in both the brain and spinal cord and is composed of the neuronal cell bodies that make up the central nervous system (CNS). The highest concentration of grey matter is in the cerebellum of the brain, and grey matter extends into the spinal cord as well.
“Grey matter refers to the areas of the brain that contain large concentrations of neurons,” says Andrew Tarulli, MD, neurologist and chairman of the department of neuroscience at Overlook Medical Center and director of the neuroscience service for Atlantic Health System. “The cell bodies for most cognitive and emotional functions reside in the grey matter.” Grey matter is essential for all aspects of human behavior, Dr Tarulli notes.
Parts of the Brain
Our central nervous system is composed of a combination of white and grey matter. Grey matter is found in the outer layer of the brain and is greyish in color. Both grey and white matter are important components of the brain, but grey matter plays a larger role in our day-to-day functioning.
According to Colleen Hanlon, Ph.D., neurobiologist and BrainsWay Vice President of Medical Affairs, white matter acts like a communicator between different areas of grey matter in the brain. Grey matter can be compared to computer chips, she says, and white matter is like the wires that connect these computer chips to each other.
“If you think about the brain as a big map, the grey matter represents all of the busy towns and cities,” she describes. “The white matter represents the highways and local roads that connect the towns. All of these things have to work smoothly in order for your brain to function at its best capacity.”
How Does the Nervous System Work With the Endocrine System?
Cognitive Processing
Grey matter plays a pivotal role in cognition, says Dr. Tarulli. “Grey matter governs intelligent thought,” he explains. Grey matter also contributes to our cognitive processing, including memory, decision-making, language, and attention. Research has found some interesting links between grey matter and attention in particular, with some studies finding alterations in grey matter among children and adults with attention deficit disorder (ADHD).
Emotional Regulation
Grey matter also plays a significant role in how we regulate our emotions. For example, 2016 research found that emotional regulation was linked to decreases of grey matter in the orbitofrontal cortex part of the brain. Decreased grey matter volume was associated with the ability to process emotions in a healthy way. The researchers also suggested that alterations of grey matter likely contributes to the development of psychiatric conditions that have emotional dysregulation as a main symptom. How to Deal With Dysregulation
The way that our nervous system controls our mental health is not known specifically, Dr. Tarulli says. Still, although most mental health conditions do not involve grey matter disturbances, alterations to grey matter can be linked with several mental health challenges. “Injuries to grey matter can produce mental health disorders,” Dr. Tarulli rema...
What Causes Loss Of Grey Matter?
It’s a difficult fact, but most adults experience some level of cognitive decline as they age. This may include changes in attention span, working memory, and cognitive processing speed. Not everyone experiences a cognitive decline in the same areas and to the same extent. But the changes in cognition that are typically experienced are linked to the atrophy of grey matter in our brains. Other factors that can cause loss of grey matter include trauma and PTSD, as well as blunt-force trauma to the head and traumatic brain injuries.
Lifestyle Factors
When it comes to aging and grey matter loss, it’s gloom and doom, Dr. Hanlon assures. “A decrease in grey matter is common as we age, but there are certain things that exacerbate grey matter loss,” she says. Controlling these factors can decrease the extent of your cognitive decline. Dr. Hanlon says that making certain lifestyle choices can protect the grey matter in your brain. These include: Refraining from drinking excess alcohol Refraining from illicit drug use Making sure you get enough sleep Controlling chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes Quitting smoking Effects of Lack of Sleep on Mental Health
The grey matter changes that occur with aging and even with some mental health conditions usually don’t require a physician to view your brain and its changes. However, if it’s suspected that you have a condition like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, your diagnosis will likely involve some brain imaging methods to identify changes in your...
There is no known way to improve your brain’s grey matter if it’s been altered or damaged, says Dr. Tarulli. However, there are ways to protect your grey matter and to lead a more “brain-friendly” lifestyle.
First and foremost, you want to protect your cardiovascular health. “The best way to protect grey matter would be to take care of your cardiovascular health, which reduces the risk of stroke,” Dr. Tarulli says. “Examples include adopting a heart-healthy diet, stopping smoking, and controlling blood pressure.”
GRAY MATTER definition: 1. US spelling of grey matter 2. the darker tissue containing nerve fibers (= structures like…. Learn more.
Nov 21, 2023 · Gray matter refers to tissue which is made up of nonmyelinated neurons, while white matter refers to areas of myelinated neurons. Location of Gray Matter and White Matter. Within the CNS,...
- Gray matter largely functions to receive information and regulate outgoing information, as it contains the cell bodies of neurons. White matter, wh...
- The difference between gray and white matter has to do with the presence or absence of myelin in the nervous tissue. Myelin is a fatty substance wh...
- White matter in the brain serves to connect regions of the same hemisphere, opposite hemisphere, lower brain centers, or spinal cord. In doing so,...
Gray matter, largely composed of neuronal cell bodies, serves to process information in the brain.
Jun 7, 2020 · Gray matter, named for its pinkish-gray color, is home to neural cell bodies, axon terminals, and dendrites, as well as all nerve synapses. This brain tissue is abundant in the cerebellum, cerebrum, and brain stem. It also forms a butterfly-shaped portion of the central spinal cord.
grey matter meaning: 1. the darker tissue containing nerve fibres (= structures like threads) found in the brain and…. Learn more.
