Just a quick heads-up—you’re probably wondering, “What exactly is grey matter?” As you get more familiar with what we do, let’s take a moment to break down what that term really means.
“Grey matter” is a term used to describe a major component of the central nervous system, mostly found in the brain and spinal cord. It’s called “grey” because of its pinkish-grey color in living tissue, which comes from the cell bodies and capillaries (as opposed to the “white matter,” which is mainly made up of myelinated axons).
Here’s what’s in grey matter:
- Neuronal cell bodies – the main part of nerve cells.
- Dendrites – the branches that receive signals from other neurons.
- Unmyelinated axons – unlike white matter, the axons here lack a fatty myelin sheath.
- Glial cells – support cells that help maintain the environment for neurons.
- Synapses – the connections where neurons communicate.
What does it do?
Grey matter is responsible for:
- Processing sensory input (like touch, sight, sound)
- Controlling muscle movement
- Memory
- Emotions
- Decision-making
- Self-control
Basically, it’s where the actual “thinking” happens in your brain.
Want to know more about how it’s affected by things like aging, exercise, or meditation?
Next, we will get into what we do at Grey Matter Diagnostics!
