piriform cortex

noun

variants or less commonly pyriform cortex or piriform or pyriform
plural piriform cortices also pyriform cortices or piriform cortexes or pyriform cortexes or piriforms or pyriforms
: the part of the cerebral cortex that receives primary input from the olfactory bulb
Smells can tap memories more powerfully than any of the other senses, says Sarah Cormiea, a Johns Hopkins doctoral candidate … . She points to evidence that just reading smell-related words—for instance, pumpkin spice—will spark activity in the area of the brain that processes olfactory stimuli, the piriform cortex.Jill Rosen

Examples of piriform cortex in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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However, our piriform cortex is thought to be analogous to the insect mushroom body in its connectivity. Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 2 Oct. 2024 Previous research has shown that adaptation to odors takes place in the piriform cortex. Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 5 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of piriform cortex was in 1921

Dictionary Entries Near piriform cortex

Cite this Entry

“Piriform cortex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piriform%20cortex. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

piriform cortex

noun
variants also pyriform cortex or piriform or pyriform
: the part of the cerebral cortex of the piriform lobe that receives primary input from the olfactory bulb
During brain imaging, the scientists found the primary odor-processing region of the brain (the piriform cortex) became active when people saw objects they'd originally seen with odors …Celeste Robb-Nicholson, Ventura County (California) Star
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