SSC Stenographer 2026 PYQ — Question 14

Solution: The correct answer is Processing information and decision-making.

Explanation:
☛ Grey matter (substantia grisea) consists largely of neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, unmyelinated axons, glial cells, and synapses.
☛ Its primary function is processing information, sensory perception, speech, decision-making, and self-control.
☛ In the brain, grey matter forms the outer layer called the cerebral cortex, where higher cognitive tasks and computations take place.
☛ In contrast, white matter is primarily made of myelinated nerve fibers that conduct signals between different brain regions and the spinal cord.

Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF): Produced mainly by the choroid plexus located in the brain's ventricles, not by grey matter.
☛ Medulla Oblongata: Located in the brainstem, it controls vital involuntary activities such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.
☛ Structural Arrangement: In the brain, grey matter is on the outside and white matter is on the inside; whereas in the spinal cord, grey matter is on the inside (H-shaped) and white matter is on the outside.

Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ What gives grey matter its characteristic pinkish-grey color? → High concentration of neuronal cell bodies and blood capillaries
☛ What is the basic structural and functional unit of the nervous system? → Neuron
☛ Which part of the brain coordinates voluntary muscle movements and maintains balance? → Cerebellum
☛ Which structure connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres? → Corpus Callosum
☛ What three-layered protective membrane surrounds the brain and spinal cord? → Meninges