Grey matter

Grey matter refers to unmyelinated neurons and other cells of the central nervous system. It is present in the brain, brainstem and cerebellum, and present throughout the spinal cord.


Grey matter is distributed at the surface of the cerebral hemispheres (cerebral cortex) and of the cerebellum (cerebellar cortex), as well as in the depths of the cerebrum (the thalamus; hypothalamus; subthalamus, basal ganglia – putamen, globus pallidus and nucleus accumbens; as well as the septal nuclei), cerebellum (deep cerebellar nuclei – the dentate nuclei, globose nucleus, emboliform nucleus, and fastigial nucleus), and brainstem (the substantia nigra, red nucleus, olivary nuclei, and cranial nerve nuclei).


Grey matter in the spinal cord is known as the grey column which travels down the spinal cord distributed in three grey columns that are presented in an "H" shape. The forward-facing column is the anterior grey column, the rear-facing one is the posterior grey column and the interlinking one is the lateral grey column. The grey matter on the left and right side is connected by the grey commissure. The grey matter in the spinal cord consists of interneurons, as well as the cell bodies of projection neurons.


Grey matter undergoes development and growth throughout childhood and adolescence.^[3] Recent studies using cross-sectional neuroimaging have shown that by around the age of 8 the volume of grey matter begins to decrease.^[4] However, the density of grey matter appears to increase as a child develops into early adulthood.^[4] Males tend to exhibit grey matter of increased volume but lower density than that of females.^[5]

Grey matter contains most of the brain's neuronal cell bodies.^[6] The grey matter includes regions of the brain involved in muscle control, and sensory perception such as seeing and hearing, memory, emotions, speech, decision-making, and self-control.


The grey matter in the spinal cord is split into three grey columns:


The grey matter of the spinal cord can be divided into different layers, called Rexed laminae. These describe, in general, the purpose of the cells within the grey matter of the spinal cord at a particular location.

Clinical significance[edit]

High alcohol consumption has been correlated with significant reductions in grey matter volume.^[7][8] Short-term cannabis use (30 days) is not correlated with changes in white or grey matter.^[9] However, several cross-sectional studies have shown that repeated long-term cannabis use is associated with smaller grey matter volumes in the hippocampus, amygdala, medial temporal cortex, and prefrontal cortex, with increased grey matter volume in the cerebellum.^[10][11][12] Long-term cannabis use is also associated with alterations in white matter integrity in an age-dependent manner,^[13] with heavy cannabis use during adolescence and early adulthood associated with the greatest amount of change.^[14]


Meditation has been shown to change grey matter structure.^{[15][16][17][18][19]}


Habitual playing of action video games has been reported to promote a reduction of grey matter in the hippocampus while 3D platformer games have been reported to increase grey matter in the hippocampus.^[20][21][22]


Women and men with equivalent IQ scores have differing proportions of grey to white matter in cortical brain regions associated with intelligence.^[23]


Pregnancy renders substantial changes in brain structure, primarily reductions in grey matter volume in regions subserving social cognition. The grey matter reductions endured for at least 2 years post-pregnancy.^[24] The profile of brain changes is comparable to that taking place during adolescence, a hormonally similar transitional period of life.^[25]