cortical potential
- noun
- /ˈkɔrtɪkəl pəˈtɛnʃəl/
- Specialized
- Abnormal cortical potentials may be signs of neurological disorders.
- slow cortical potential
Examples
-
The cortical potential was measured during the experiment.
-
Changes in cortical potential can indicate different stages of sleep or alertness.
-
Scientists measured the cortical potential to study patterns of brain activity.
-
Researchers observed a significant increase in cortical potentials.
-
Researchers observed a rapid cortical potential during the visual stimuli test conducted with EEG monitoring.
-
The patient showed an increase in cortical potential when responding to auditory cues in the brain study.
-
Neurologists measured the cortical potential to understand brain activity in patients with cognitive impairments.
Synonyms
A pattern of electrical activity in the brain seen on an EEG
A fast change in the brain's electrical signals that a machine can measure
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'cortical' refers to the cortex (the outer layer of the brain) and 'potential' to an electrical voltage or charge difference, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer an electrical voltage in the cortex. Although it is technical neuroscience terminology, the meaning follows regular noun-noun composition and is predictable rather than idiomatic.
Etymology
Cortical potential comes from two parts: cortical (the brain's outer layer, the cortex) and potential (like an electric 'pressure' between places). It names a quick change in electrical charge on the brain's surface, so it means 'a fast electrical change in the cortex'.