Abstract

The structure of the brain as a product of morphogenesis is difficult to reconcile with the observed complexity of cerebral connectivity. We therefore analyzed relationships of adjacency and crossing between cerebral fiber pathways in four nonhuman primate species and in humans by using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging. The cerebral fiber pathways formed a rectilinear three-dimensional grid continuous with the three principal axes of development. Cortico-cortical pathways formed parallel sheets of interwoven paths in the longitudinal and medio-lateral axes, in which major pathways were local condensations. Cross-species homology was strong and showed emergence of complex gyral connectivity by continuous elaboration of this grid structure. This architecture naturally supports functional spatio-temporal coherence, developmental path-finding, and incremental rewiring with correlated adaptation of structure and function in cerebral plasticity and evolution.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Wedeen VJ, Rosene DL, Wang R, Dai G, Mortazavi F, Hagmann P, Kaas JH, Tseng WY

Institution

Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Harvard Medical School and the MGH/Massachussetts Institute of Technology, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA. van@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu

Source

Science (New York, N.Y.) 335:6076 2012 Mar 30 pg 1628-34

MeSH

Animals
Aotidae
Axons
Biological Evolution
Brain Mapping
Callithrix
Cerebral Cortex
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Galago
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Macaca mulatta
Nerve Fibers
Neural Pathways
Prosencephalon
Species Specificity

Pub Type(s)

Comparative Study
Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22461612