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

Determining the Plane of Cell Division02:13

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function. 
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...
Determining the Plane of Cell Division02:13

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function. 
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

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.
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...
Cerebral Hemispheres01:05

Cerebral Hemispheres

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...
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

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,...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

The role of supraoptic hypothalamic arginine vasopressin neurons in aging-associated water balance and thermoregulatory deficits in male mice.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

The MacBrain Resource Center (MBRC) rhesus macaque postnatal brain histology datasets: Enabling new discoveries through NHP tissue and digital data Repositories.

Journal of anatomy·2026
Same author

A portable, ultra-low cost, open-source, pedal-controlled microinjector for laboratory use.

PloS one·2026
Same author

The MacBrain Resource Center (MBRC) rhesus macaque embryonic brain histology datasets.

Journal of anatomy·2026
Same author

Lamination of primary visual cortex in the macaque: Layer 5 subdivisions.

Journal of anatomy·2026
Same author

Accomplishments of "Old-Fashioned" Electron Microscopy in the Period of Dominance of Immunofluorescent Methods.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026
Same journal

Building neuroscience capacity in low- and middle-income countries: Lessons from Ghana.

Trends in neurosciences·2026
Same journal

Emulating the periodic table: A unified list of CNS terms and abbreviations for humans and experimental animals.

Trends in neurosciences·2026
Same journal

From chromatin dynamics to brain disease: Polycomb-Trithorax mechanisms in neurodevelopment.

Trends in neurosciences·2026
Same journal

Striatum regulates the cortex via the basal forebrain cholinergic system: A role for substance P.

Trends in neurosciences·2026
Same journal

A large brain adds new types of neurons: Molecular and functional signatures of spindle neurons in the human neocortex.

Trends in neurosciences·2026
Same journal

Exercise as a regulator of glymphatic function.

Trends in neurosciences·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Visualization of Cortical Modules in Flattened Mammalian Cortices
08:49

Visualization of Cortical Modules in Flattened Mammalian Cortices

Published on: January 22, 2018

Decision by division: making cortical maps.

Pasko Rakic1, Albert E Ayoub, Joshua J Breunig

  • 1Department of Neurobiology and Kavli Institute of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. pasko.rakic@yale.edu

Trends in Neurosciences
|April 22, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Neuronal development begins early, with cell specification occurring during embryonic division and migration. This process shapes the cerebral cortex, influencing human brain evolution and understanding cortical malformations.

More Related Videos

Large-scale Three-dimensional Imaging of Cellular Organization in the Mouse Neocortex
09:55

Large-scale Three-dimensional Imaging of Cellular Organization in the Mouse Neocortex

Published on: September 5, 2018

Multiscale Investigations of Cortical Processing by Integrating Laminar Polytrodes and Optogenetics with Micro Electrocorticography in Rodents
07:52

Multiscale Investigations of Cortical Processing by Integrating Laminar Polytrodes and Optogenetics with Micro Electrocorticography in Rodents

Published on: May 23, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Visualization of Cortical Modules in Flattened Mammalian Cortices
08:49

Visualization of Cortical Modules in Flattened Mammalian Cortices

Published on: January 22, 2018

Large-scale Three-dimensional Imaging of Cellular Organization in the Mouse Neocortex
09:55

Large-scale Three-dimensional Imaging of Cellular Organization in the Mouse Neocortex

Published on: September 5, 2018

Multiscale Investigations of Cortical Processing by Integrating Laminar Polytrodes and Optogenetics with Micro Electrocorticography in Rodents
07:52

Multiscale Investigations of Cortical Processing by Integrating Laminar Polytrodes and Optogenetics with Micro Electrocorticography in Rodents

Published on: May 23, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Neuronal class specification is increasingly understood to initiate during embryonic development.
  • Early cell determination and migration are critical for establishing cortical architecture.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence for early neuronal specification in cortical development.
  • To explore the roles of the radial unit and protomap hypotheses.
  • To examine genes and signaling molecules in neuronal fate determination.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research.
  • Analysis of findings related to cortical development and evolution.
  • Compiling information on genes and signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Evidence supports early specification of cortical neurons during mitotic divisions and migration.
  • The radial unit and protomap hypotheses provide frameworks for understanding cortical development.
  • Insights into pathogenesis of cortical malformations and human neocortex evolution are provided.

Conclusions:

  • Early neuronal specification is a fundamental process in cortical development.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for studying brain evolution and disorders.
  • A comprehensive overview of key genes and molecules involved is presented.