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Updated: Jul 31, 2026
10:05
A Large Lateral Craniotomy Procedure for Mesoscale Wide-field Optical Imaging of Brain Activity
Published on: May 7, 2017
Potential of visual cortex to develop an array of functional units unique to somatosensory cortex
1Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|June 14, 1991
Summary
Neocortical development shows plasticity. Transplanted embryonic visual cortex developed somatosensory "barrels," indicating similar differentiation potentials across brain regions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroanatomy
Background:
- Specialized areas in the mammalian neocortex, like the visual and somatosensory cortex, are defined by unique architectural and functional characteristics.
- Understanding whether these distinct features are predetermined or influenced by epigenetic interactions is crucial for comprehending neocortical development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental potential of neocortical areas by examining if features of one area can emerge in another.
- To determine the extent to which specific neocortical area features are prespecified or epigenetically determined.
Main Methods:
- Transplantation of late embryonic visual cortex into the neonatal somatosensory cortex of rats.
- Histological and molecular analysis of the transplanted tissue to identify "barrels" and associated glycoconjugate boundaries.
Main Results:
- The transplanted visual cortex successfully developed "barrels" and their characteristic glycoconjugate boundaries.
- These structures formed an organized array, mimicking the pattern observed in the native somatosensory cortex's barrelfield.
Conclusions:
- Developing neocortical regions possess similar latent potentials for differentiating features characteristic of distinct cortical areas.
- Epigenetic factors and local environment play a significant role in shaping the functional organization of the neocortex, rather than strict genetic predetermination alone.
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01:24Vision
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01:33Somatosensation
The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.
01:14Motor 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.
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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.
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
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01:11Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System
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The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the stimulus...
The receptor level:
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01:23Somatosensory, 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...