Gray Matter vs White Matter

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In order to internalize these components of self, we’re excited to invite you to participate in the brain battle of Grey Matter vs White Matter, May 9-10 on eyewire.org. 

The Difference Between Grey Matter and White Matter

We’re used to thinking of the brain as a single organ; however, it is made so many sub-structures that sometimes I consider it it’s own organ system. The two largest major subdivisions of the brain are gray (grey) matter and white matter.

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The brain is a blobby 3D structure that is covered in grey matter, which we call Cortex. Roughly 50% of the brain’s volume is cortex, so it’s a thick layer. Within cortex are found somas (cell bodies) and almost all of the brain’s synapses, from both local cells and faraway projections. Computation happens in cortex. Faraway projects arrive at cortex via white matter, an internal volume of brain that contains billions of axon fibers that connects various regions of cortex together. Smarter animals tend to have both more cortex and more white matter connections.

To learn more about the science behind Eyewire and get a jump on the research that’s leading to our next game, check out science.eyewire.org.

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Image by Monica Oh advised by Amy Sterling and Daniela Gamba