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Related Concept Videos

Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview I01:26

Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview I

The main and largest component of the human brain is the cerebrum. The cerebrum consists of two main parts: the cerebral cortex, an outer layer with wrinkles or folds known as gyri and shallow grooves called sulci, and a deeper region beneath it. The cerebrum divides into two distinct hemispheres and contains five different lobes: the frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, and insula. The central sulcus separates the frontal and parietal lobes and two functionally important gyri — the...
Lobes of the Cerebrum01:22

Lobes of the Cerebrum

The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements.
Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...
Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview II01:11

Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview II

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...
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex01:23

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

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 the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Live Imaging of Primary Cerebral Cortex Cells Using a 2D Culture System
10:12

Live Imaging of Primary Cerebral Cortex Cells Using a 2D Culture System

Published on: August 9, 2017

Cerebral cortex development: From progenitors patterning to neocortical size during evolution.

Alessandra Pierani1, Marion Wassef

  • 1Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-UMR 7592, Institut Jacques Monod, Université Paris Diderot et UPMC, 2 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France. pierani@ijm.jussieu.fr

Development, Growth & Differentiation
|March 21, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Precise control over neural development is essential for forming functional brain networks. Variations in this developmental precision may have driven the expansion of the mammalian cerebral cortex.

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Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

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Published on: January 26, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • The central nervous system (CNS) requires precise organization of distinct neurons to form functional networks.
  • Development involves hierarchical generation, spatial positioning, and temporal coordination of cell classes.
  • Regionalization and neurogenesis along anterior-posterior and dorso-ventral axes depend on coordinated growth and patterning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review how precise control of growth and cell fate patterning influences CNS structure size.
  • To discuss the role of developmental divergence in the evolutionary surface increase of the mammalian cerebral cortex.
  • To explore how a lack of developmental precision may have contributed to neocortical evolution.

Main Methods:

  • This is a review article, synthesizing existing research on neural development and evolution.
  • It focuses on theoretical and conceptual frameworks rather than experimental data.
  • Key concepts discussed include growth control, cell fate patterning, and evolutionary divergence.

Main Results:

  • Fine-tuning of growth and cell fate patterning is critical for determining the size of CNS structures.
  • Evolutionary divergence in developmental processes has contributed to the expansion of the cerebral cortex in mammals.
  • Imprecision in developmental mechanisms may have been a driving force behind neocortical evolution.

Conclusions:

  • The size and complexity of CNS structures are outcomes of finely tuned developmental processes.
  • Evolutionary changes in developmental precision, particularly in the neocortex, have led to significant increases in brain size.
  • Understanding developmental imprecision offers insights into the evolutionary trajectory of the mammalian brain.