convolution
1
8.6
- noun
- /ˌkɒnvəˈluːʃən/
- Specialized
:
convolución
- If you've ever seen a picture of the surface of a human brain with all of its convolutions, that was about how the alien's face looked.
Examples
-
He generated an image of the man's face for himself and studied its convolutions.
Fiction book (1990) -
Surprising how closely the convolutions of a walnut resemble those of the human brain.
-
We hold our breath, waiting for this world to unfreeze, our patience tested by the convolutions of the long sentence in the second paragraph.
Academic text (2011) -
He held the shell, fingered its warm pavilion, and felt its mineral convolutions.
Fiction book (2001) -
It is a floor plan of the convolutions of a labyrinth, rendered on the floor of the Roman frigidarium, a cold room that is the traditional finishing point in the sequence of Roman bathing.
Academic text (2011) -
But the mosaics depict a wholly different moment in the narrative and spread out the patterns and convolutions of the labyrinth itself (Fig. 1).
Academic text (2011) -
Observe, ladies and gentlemen, the scarcity of convolutions on the frontal lobe, as compared to that of the normal brain, and the distinct degeneration of the middle frontal lobe.
-
She'd once seen the autopsy picture of a brain ravaged by Alzheimer’s, so many of the convolutions of a healthy organ unraveled until the brain was almost as smooth as a baby's bottom...
Fiction book (2002) -
Fifty-six known Roman floor mosaics represent the convolutions of the labyrinth. While the majority come from houses, fourteen labyrinth mosaics come from baths, and seven of these are from baths in North Africa.
Academic text (2011) -
In a healthy brain, the convolutions are well-defined, creating a complex surface for increased functionality.
Synonyms
2
9.9
A raised fold on the brain surface between two grooves
A part of a computer model that finds patterns in images
Compounds
- Specialized
Part of the left front of the brain that controls the muscles used for speaking and helps make words
- Specialized
A part of the left front of the brain that helps you move your mouth to speak
Surface Forms
Morphology
convolution = convolute (semi-transparent) = con + volut + ion
The morphological relation 'convolute' + '-ion' (twisting/rolling → a fold) is clear, but the specialised anatomical sense ('brain fold') is technical and may not be obvious to all learners.
Etymology
Convolution comes from Latin parts con- 'together' and volvere 'to roll', the same root you see in revolve and involve. Think of the brain's surface as a sheet 'rolled' many times into folds or ridges. So, a brain convolution is one of those 'rolled' folds that help give the brain more surface area.