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Related Concept Videos

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...
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.
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...
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...
Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy01:16

Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy

The cross-sectional anatomy of the spinal cord offers a detailed view of its complex structure and function within the central nervous system. At the core of the spinal cord lies the gray matter, characterized by its butterfly or "H"-shaped appearance in cross-section. This central region is enveloped by white matter, with the overall structure divided into symmetrical halves by the dorsal median sulcus and the ventral median fissure.
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...
Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways01:29

Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways

Somatic sensory or somatosensory pathways refer to the neural pathways that carry information related to touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and proprioception from the skin, muscles, tendons, and joints to the brain. These pathways involve several stages of processing and integration of sensory information.
The somatosensory system is divided into three main pathways: the dorsal (or posterior) column-medial lemniscus, spinothalamic (or anterolateral), and spinocerebellar pathways.
The dorsal...

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Large-scale Three-dimensional Imaging of Cellular Organization in the Mouse Neocortex
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Published on: September 5, 2018

Whose Cortical Column Would that Be?

Nuno Maçarico da Costa1, Kevan A C Martin

  • 1Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich Zurich, Switzerland.

Frontiers in Neuroanatomy
|July 20, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The cortical column, a key concept in neocortex function, lacks direct anatomical evidence. A proposed

Keywords:
Daisybouton clustercanonical microcircuitcortical columnneuroanatomy

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Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Neuroscience
  • Neuroanatomy

Background:

  • The cortical column is a foundational concept for understanding neocortical functional organization.
  • Despite its utility, direct anatomical evidence for cortical columns remains elusive.
  • Electrophysiological recordings show consistent receptive field properties perpendicular to the cortical surface, but anatomical data presents challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To historically trace the origins and development of the cortical column concept.
  • To address the discrepancy between functional and anatomical data in the neocortex.
  • To propose a framework for reconciling neocortical structure and function.

Main Methods:

  • Historical analysis of research on cortical architecture.
  • Review of electrophysiological and anatomical studies.
  • Conceptual development of the 'canonical circuit' model.

Main Results:

  • The concept of the cortical column emerged from electrophysiological findings, not direct anatomical visualization.
  • Anatomical data has historically challenged the notion of clearly defined columnar structures.
  • A 'canonical circuit' model offers a potential reconciliation of functional and anatomical observations.

Conclusions:

  • The 'canonical circuit' model respects known neocortical connectivity.
  • This model provides flexibility to explain transient network changes for computation.
  • It offers a pathway to unify the functional and structural understanding of the neocortex.