Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview II01:11

Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview II

4.9K
Each cerebral hemisphere can be divided into three main regions. The outermost region, the cerebral cortex, is a thin layer (2 to 4 millimeters thick) made up of gray matter, consisting of neuron cell bodies, dendrites, glial cells, and blood vessels. The middle region, or white matter, is primarily composed of myelinated nerve fibers organized into three types of large tracts: association fibers, commissures, and projection fibers. Association fibers connect different areas within the same...
4.9K
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

8.0K
The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
8.0K
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

10.2K
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
10.2K
Cerebral Hemispheres01:05

Cerebral Hemispheres

3.8K
The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...
3.8K
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex01:23

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

5.0K
The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at...
5.0K
Biological Influences on Intelligence01:30

Biological Influences on Intelligence

732
Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter...
732

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Information Thermodynamics: From Physics to Neuroscience.

Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)·2024
Same author

Bounds on the rates of statistical divergences and mutual information via stochastic thermodynamics.

Physical review. E·2024
Same author

Explicit mutual information for simple networks and neurons with lognormal activities.

Physical review. E·2024
Same author

Cooperativity, Information Gain, and Energy Cost During Early LTP in Dendritic Spines.

Neural computation·2023
Same author

Information encoded in volumes and areas of dendritic spines is nearly maximal across mammalian brains.

Scientific reports·2023
Same author

Energetics of stochastic BCM type synaptic plasticity and storing of accurate information.

Journal of computational neuroscience·2021

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 28, 2026

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance
09:01

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance

Published on: May 7, 2014

9.5K

How does connectivity between cortical areas depend on brain size? Implications for efficient computation.

Jan Karbowski1

  • 1Sloan-Swartz Center for Theoretical Neurobiology, Division of Biology 216-76, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA. jkarb@cns.caltech.edu

Journal of Computational Neuroscience
|November 18, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Mammalian brain connectivity shows surprising independence from brain size, suggesting efficient neural computation. This finding aids in estimating average axon length and understanding brain organization.

More Related Videos

Analyzing the Size, Shape, and Directionality of Networks of Coupled Astrocytes
10:10

Analyzing the Size, Shape, and Directionality of Networks of Coupled Astrocytes

Published on: October 4, 2018

8.5K
Statistical Modelling of Cortical Connectivity Using Non-invasive Electroencephalograms
08:51

Statistical Modelling of Cortical Connectivity Using Non-invasive Electroencephalograms

Published on: November 1, 2019

5.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 28, 2026

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance
09:01

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance

Published on: May 7, 2014

9.5K
Analyzing the Size, Shape, and Directionality of Networks of Coupled Astrocytes
10:10

Analyzing the Size, Shape, and Directionality of Networks of Coupled Astrocytes

Published on: October 4, 2018

8.5K
Statistical Modelling of Cortical Connectivity Using Non-invasive Electroencephalograms
08:51

Statistical Modelling of Cortical Connectivity Using Non-invasive Electroencephalograms

Published on: November 1, 2019

5.0K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Comparative Neuroanatomy
  • Computational Neuroscience

Background:

  • Understanding the relationship between brain size and neural connectivity is crucial for deciphering brain organization and function.
  • Previous models suggested a strong dependence of connectivity on brain size across species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To derive a formula for average connectivity between cortical areas in mammals.
  • To investigate the relationship between brain size and cortical connectivity.
  • To explore functional implications for efficient cortical computation.

Main Methods:

  • Derivation of a mathematical formula for average cortical connectivity.
  • Analysis of comparative neuroanatomical data across mammalian species.
  • Examination of allometric scaling relationships for cortical features.

Main Results:

  • Average mammalian cortical connectivity is surprisingly weakly dependent or independent of brain size.
  • A formula was derived to estimate average axon length in white matter based on connectivity.
  • Allometric relations for cortical patch and area sizes relative to brain size were provided.

Conclusions:

  • Cortical connectivity scaling is not strictly dependent on brain size, challenging previous assumptions.
  • The derived formula offers a tool for estimating white matter axon length.
  • Findings suggest principles of efficient neural computation are conserved across mammalian brains of varying sizes.