Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
08:42
Monocular Visual Deprivation and Ocular Dominance Plasticity Measurement in the Mouse Primary Visual Cortex
Published on: February 8, 2020
10.1K
Layer-specific changes in sensory cortex across the lifespan in mice and humans
Peng Liu1,2,3,4, Juliane Doehler5,6, Julia U Henschke1,7
1Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Nature Neuroscience
|August 12, 2025
Summary
Aging alters brain structure and function, particularly in the primary somatosensory cortex. Older adults show enlarged input layers and changes in myelination, impacting sensory processing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Comparative Biology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Cortical layer architecture is conserved across species, but its age-related changes and impact on sensory systems are not well understood.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for addressing sensory dysfunction in aging populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related alterations in the functional and structural architecture of the primary somatosensory cortex.
- To compare these changes across species (humans and mice) and identify conserved aging mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Layer-specific in vivo 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in younger and older human adults.
- Calcium imaging and histology in younger and older mice.
- Multimodal imaging techniques to assess structure, function, and myelination.
Main Results:
- Older adults exhibit enlarged and more myelinated input layer IV, linked to prolonged sensory signals.
- Age-related cortical thinning is primarily driven by deep layers, with increased myelination observed.
- In mice, aging correlates with increased sensory-evoked neuronal activity and parvalbumin expression, suggesting altered inhibition.
- Dynamic, age-dependent changes in layer-specific myelination were observed across species.
Conclusions:
- Middle and deep cortical layers are particularly sensitive to aging across species.
- Aging impacts sensory processing through structural and functional alterations in specific cortical layers.
- Myelination dynamics and inhibitory balance are key factors in age-related cortical changes.
Related Concept Videos
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.
02:43Mouse Models of Cancer Study
Mice have long served as models for studying human biology and pathology because of their phylogenetic and physiological similarity with humans. They are also easy to maintain and breed in the laboratory, and hence, many inbred strains are now available for research. Studies on mice have contributed immeasurably to our understanding of cancer biology.
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
01:28Forced Transdifferentiation
Transdifferentiation, also known as lineage reprogramming, was first discovered by Selman and Kafatos in 1974 in silkmoths. They observed that the moths’ cuticle-producing cells transformed into salt-producing cells. Many such cases of natural transdifferentiation occur in organisms. In humans, pancreatic alpha cells can become beta cells. In newts, the loss of the eye’s lens causes the pigmented epithelial cells to transdifferentiate into the lens cells.
Artificial transdifferentiation occurs...
Artificial transdifferentiation occurs...
01:16Sensory Functions of the Skin
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays a crucial role in our sensory perception. It contains a vast network of sensory receptors that contribute to the skin's protective function by perceiving physical, biological, and environmental cues and generating relevant responses.
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
00:57Cellular Differentiation
How does a complex organism such as a human develop from a single cell? It all starts from a single fertilized egg which gives rise to a vast array of cell types, such as nerve cells, muscle cells, and epithelial cells that characterize the adult? Throughout development and adulthood, cellular differentiation leads cells to assume their final morphology and physiology. Differentiation is the process by which unspecialized cells become specialized to carry out distinct functions.
A zygote is a...
A zygote is a...
01:26Introduction to Special Senses
Sensory receptors play an integral part in comprehending our external and internal environments. They receive diverse stimuli, converting them into the nervous system's electrochemical signals. This conversion occurs as the stimulus alters the sensory neuron's cell membrane potential, instigating the generation of an action potential. This action potential is subsequently transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS), which integrates with other sensory data or higher cognitive functions.