• Dictionary
  • Word comparison: gray matter vs. white matter

gray matter vs. white matter

gray matter vs. white matter: 's the difference?

Gray matter and white matter, both named for their literal color, are different types of nerve tissue found in the brain and spinal cord. Gray matter is heavily involved in sensory and emotional processing as well as movement and memory, while white matter serves to enable communication between different areas of the brain and spine and is also involved in learning.

gray matter

noun

  1. Anatomy. nerve tissue, especially of the brain and spinal cord, that contains fibers and nerve cell bodies and is dark reddish-gray. Compare white matter.
  2. Informal. brains or intellect.

white matter

noun

Anatomy.
  1. nerve tissue, especially of the brain and spinal cord, which primarily contains myelinated fibers and is nearly white in color. Compare gray matter ( def 1 ).