Transcriptomic and genomic analysis provides a resource of 50 primate-specific genes preferentially expressed in neural progenitors of fetal human neocortex, 15 of which are specific to humans.
Expression of human-specific gene ARHGAP11B in the developing ferret neocortex leads to an increase in abundance of neural progenitor cells, which results in neocortex expansion.
Transcription factor Sox9 has an important role in neocortex expansion, where its expression in basal progenitors increases proliferation, induces premature gliogenesis and promotes the expression of extracellular matrix components.
Neocortical synapses in layer 4 of the human temporal lobe neocortex were quantitatively characterized, at the subcellular level, using high-end, high-resolution electron microscopy and 3D-volume reconstructions.
The higher amount of cortical immature neurons in brains with expanded neocortices may represent a reservoir of young cells for mammals with reduced neurogenesis.
The hippocampus and neocortex engage in waves of mutual excitation wherein a sharp wave-ripple may occur at any time before, during or after the peak of the hippocampal-neocortical activation.
Snap-freezing of brain tissue reveals its true structure-showing that cells are less squashed together, and the connections between neurons are less enclosed than previously thought.
Excitatory cortical neurons with a shared developmental lineage are transcriptomically diverse and preferentially connect to each other vertically, across cortical layers, but not laterally within the same layer.
