What is the difference between a gyrus and a sulcus

These structures help to demarcate certain parts of the brain such as lobes and divisions. Gyri and sulci are entitled based on the lobe they are found or their relative position within the lobe. The convolutions on the surface of the cerebral cortex are called gyri singular term is gyrus. Each gyrus of the cerebral cortex has a name and is often used in neurolinguistic descriptions. They are named mainly according to their location.

For example, gyri located in the frontal lobe are named as superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus and inferior frontal gyrus, whereas the gyri found in temporal lobe are denoted as superior and middle temporal gyrus. Occipital lobe has superior and inferior occipital gyrus. Sulci singular term is sulcus are often referred to as fissures on the cortex surface. They are found in between gyri. The anterior cingulate gyrus is responsible for emotional processing and the vocalisation of emotions, as well as being involved in emotional bonding and attachment, especially between the primary caregiver and child.

This may be due to the fact that this structure has connections to the amygdala, a structure which processes emotions. The posterior cingulate gyrus has a role in spatial memory, including the ability to process information relating to the spatial orientation of objects in the environment. This part of the cingulate gyrus has connections to the parietal and temporal lobes, which allows it to coordinate functions in the areas of movement, orientation, and navigation.

The precentral gyrus is the anatomical location of the primary motor cortex, which is what this gyrus is commonly known as. The precentral gyrus is believed to contain the motor control for the torso, arms, hands, fingers, and head.

The superior temporal gyrus is an area which contains the auditory cortex, which is responsible for the processing of sounds. Specific sound frequencies are mapped precisely onto the auditory cortex, forming an auditory map, which is similar to the homunculus map of the primary motor cortex. Some areas of the superior temporal gyrus are responsible for processing combinations of frequencies, whilst others are specialized for processing changes in amplitude or frequency.

The cingulate gyrus is a component of the limbic system, consisting of a curved fold which covers the corpus callosum a bundle of nerve fibers which connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres. The anterior cingulate gyrus is responsible for emotional processing and the vocalization of emotions, as well as being involved in emotional bonding and attachment, especially between the primary caregiver and child. Within the early stages of development, there can be an abnormal pattern of gyri and sulci which can lead to complications.

Abnormal patterns are sometimes caused by disorders of cell migration in the developing cortex. If gyri do not form properly during development, the cerebral cortex will be smoother than it should be, a condition called lissencephaly. Issues with smooth cerebral cortices can be a factor in the development of epilepsy.

Abnormally large gyri can form, leading to pachygyria, and abnormally small gyri can lead to microgyria. These abnormalities can affect the cerebral cortex as a whole, but they may also be localized to one area and the conditions can coexist which each other. Polymicrogyria is a condition which is characterized by an excessive number of gyri in the brain which develops before birth. With this condition, the sulci will be abnormally shallow in comparison to typically developed brains.

This results in an irregular surface to the cortex and can be localized to a single gyrus or can involve many gyri. Other symptoms of polymicrogyria can include a delay in development, problems with speech and swallowing, muscle weakness, or paralysis. Severe cases of polymicrogyria, named bilateral generalised polymicrogyria, can affect the brain as a whole.

Damage or developmental irregularities with specific gyri or sulci can affect specific functions. Perisylvian syndrome is a rare neurological disease which results from damage to the lateral sulcus or Sylvian sulcus , resulting in language and speech problems. Finally, abnormalities of the superior temporal gyrus have been associated with some of the symptoms of schizophrenia Barta et al.

It has been suggested that in individuals with one of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, auditory hallucinations, their superior temporal gyrus had structural and functional deficits.

Olivia has been working as a support worker for adults with learning disabilities in Bristol for the last four years. Guy-Evans, O. Gyri and sulci of the brain. Simply Psychology. Bailey, R. In biological morphology and anatomy , a sulcus pl. It may be a groove in the surface of a limb or an organ, notably in the surface of the brain, but also in the lungs, certain muscles including the heart , as well as in bones, and elsewhere.

The frontal lobe is important for cognitive functions and control of voluntary movement or activity. The parietal lobe processes information about temperature, taste, touch and movement, while the occipital lobe is primarily responsible for vision.

Gyrification is the process of forming the characteristic folds of the cerebral cortex. The peak of such a fold is called a gyrus plural: gyri , and its trough is called a sulcus plural: sulci. The neurons of the cerebral cortex reside in a thin layer of gray matter, only 2—4 mm thick, at the surface of the brain.

Each cerebral hemisphere is divided into four lobes by sulci and gyri. The sulci or fissures are the grooves and the gyri are the "bumps" that can be seen on the surface of the brain. The folding created by the sulci and gyri increases the amount of cerebral cortex that can fit in the skull.

These lines actually have a name. They are actually crevices on the surface of your brain that we call sulci, the word sulci being plural for the word sulcus, which is a crevice on the surface of your brain. The central sulcus is a large groove that separates the frontal and parietal lobes.

The frontal lobe, occipital lobe, temporal lobe and parietal lobe make up the cerebrum. The frontal lobe is responsible for problem-solving, voluntary body movement, sentence formation and personality. The occipital lobe is where processing of visual information takes place. During the third trimester of gestation, the human cerebral cortex experiences rapid growth and begins to form a wrinkled appearance 1 , 2.

The grooves in the convoluted brain are called sulci , and the bulging ridges between them are called gyri. Gyrus : A convolution on the surface of a cerebral hemisphere caused by the infolding of the cerebral cortex. Many gyri are constant enough in their occurrence as anatomic features that they have been given names as, for example, the cingulate gyrus , the dentate gyrus , and so on.

What is the difference between a gyrus and a sulcus? Category: medical health brain and nervous system disorders. But there is a difference between the two. Gyrus , or its plural term gyri , is the term used for the prominent raise or outward fold in the brain.