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Updated: May 14, 2026
09:57
How to Measure Cortical Folding from MR Images: a Step-by-Step Tutorial to Compute Local Gyrification Index
Published on: January 2, 2012
Development of cortical folding during evolution and ontogeny.
Karl Zilles1, Nicola Palomero-Gallagher, Katrin Amunts
1Research Centre Juelich, Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Juelich, Germany. k.zilles@fz-juelich.de
Trends in Neurosciences
|February 19, 2013
Summary
Cortical folding, or gyrification, varies across mammals and increases with brain size. Recent studies explore cellular development and mechanical forces, proposing integrated models for brain folding.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Comparative Anatomy
Background:
- Cortical folding is a key feature of mammalian brain evolution, with folding degree correlating with brain size.
- However, the scale of folding varies significantly across different mammalian orders and families.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent research on the mechanisms driving cortical folding.
- To discuss emerging models that integrate genetic, cellular, and mechanical factors influencing gyrification.
Main Methods:
- Review of genetic analyses investigating brain volume and gyrification.
- Examination of cellular development and connectivity data (grey matter hypothesis).
- Analysis of mechanical properties of neural components (tension hypothesis).
Main Results:
- Genetic data suggest independent development of brain volume and gyrification.
- Cellular processes and connectivity play a crucial role in cortical folding.
- Mechanical properties of neural elements are integral to folding mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Existing hypotheses (grey matter, tension) provide a foundation for understanding cortical folding.
- An integrative approach combining genetic, cellular, and mechanical perspectives is needed for a comprehensive view of brain folding.
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