You've likely heard of the brain's gray matter – here's why the white matter is important too

The brain's neural network, which includes both gray and white matter. Pasieka/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

Who has not contemplated how a memory is formed, a sentence generated, a sunset appreciated, a creative act performed or a heinous crime committed?

The human brain is a three-pound organ that remains largely an enigma. But most people have heard of the brain’s gray matter, which is needed for cognitive functions such as learning, remembering and reasoning.