Development of the cerebral cortex

The development of the cerebral cortex, known as corticogenesis is the process during which the cerebral cortex of the brain is formed as part of the development of the nervous system of mammals including its development in humans. The cortex is the outer layer of the brain and is composed of up to six layers. Neurons formed in the ventricular zone migrate to their final locations in one of the six layers of the cortex. The process occurs from embryonic day 10 to 17 in mice and between gestational weeks seven to 18 in humans.

The cortex is the outermost layer of the brain and consists primarily of gray matter, or neuronal cell bodies. Interior areas of the brain consist of myelinated axons and appear as white matter.