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

Anatomy of the Brain: Major Regions01:20

Anatomy of the Brain: Major Regions

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It consists of four main parts: the cerebrum, diencephalon, cerebellum, and brainstem.
The cerebrum is the largest section of the brain and divides into left and right hemispheres, separated by a deep fissure. The cerebral outer layer of grey matter — the cerebral cortex — comprises elevations called gyri and shallow groves called sulci. The inner portion of white matter includes long nerve fibers known as axons, which connect various areas...
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...
Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay01:27

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

The thalamus, often called “the gateway to the cerebral cortex,” is vital in processing and directing sensory and motor signals throughout the brain. Almost all inputs destined for the cerebral cortex, except for olfactory signals, are relayed through the thalamus. The thalamus is  a sophisticated relay station, channeling information from various brain regions to the cerebral cortex, as well as a filter, prioritizing certain signals over others based on current physiological states or needs.
Cerebellum: Anatomical Regions01:17

Cerebellum: Anatomical Regions

The cerebellum, also known as the "little brain," is located in the posterior cranial fossa, inferior to the tentorium cerebelli and dorsal to the brainstem. It plays a significant role in motor control, coordination, and proprioception.
Cerebellar Structure
Externally, the cerebellum features a highly convoluted surface with numerous folia (narrow ridges) separated by shallow sulci (grooves). The cerebellum is divided into two hemispheres by a thin median structure known as the vermis. The...
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...
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

3D ultrastructural comparison of synapses in thalamic and non-thalamic recipient layers of macaque V1.

Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)·2026
Same author

Neuronal composition of processing modules in human V1: laminar density for neuronal and non-neuronal populations and a comparison with macaque.

Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)·2024
Same author

GABAergic and non-GABAergic subpopulations of Kv3.1b-expressing neurons in macaque V2 and MT: laminar distributions and proportion of total neuronal population.

Brain structure & function·2020
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings
07:08

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Published on: August 1, 2018

8.4K

Three-dimensional ultrastructural differences between thalamic and non-thalamic recipient layers in macaque V1.

Virginia Garcia-Marin1,2, Michael J Hawken3

  • 1Department of Biology, York College of the City University of New York, New York, New York, USA.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|August 13, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Thalamocortical synapses in primate visual cortex layer 4C are larger and more abundant than in layer 3B. This structural difference suggests specialized synaptic efficacy for sensory processing in input layers.

Keywords:
3D reconstructionFIBSEMelectron microscopymacaquemitochondriamultisynaptic boutonsprimary visual cortexsynapsessynaptic boutonssynaptic densitythalamocortical input

More Related Videos

Convection Enhanced Delivery of Optogenetic Adeno-associated Viral Vector to the Cortex of Rhesus Macaque Under Guidance of Online MRI Images
08:52

Convection Enhanced Delivery of Optogenetic Adeno-associated Viral Vector to the Cortex of Rhesus Macaque Under Guidance of Online MRI Images

Published on: May 23, 2019

7.0K
In Vivo Intracerebral Stereotaxic Injections for Optogenetic Stimulation of Long-Range Inputs in Mouse Brain Slices
09:07

In Vivo Intracerebral Stereotaxic Injections for Optogenetic Stimulation of Long-Range Inputs in Mouse Brain Slices

Published on: September 20, 2019

11.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings
07:08

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Published on: August 1, 2018

8.4K
Convection Enhanced Delivery of Optogenetic Adeno-associated Viral Vector to the Cortex of Rhesus Macaque Under Guidance of Online MRI Images
08:52

Convection Enhanced Delivery of Optogenetic Adeno-associated Viral Vector to the Cortex of Rhesus Macaque Under Guidance of Online MRI Images

Published on: May 23, 2019

7.0K
In Vivo Intracerebral Stereotaxic Injections for Optogenetic Stimulation of Long-Range Inputs in Mouse Brain Slices
09:07

In Vivo Intracerebral Stereotaxic Injections for Optogenetic Stimulation of Long-Range Inputs in Mouse Brain Slices

Published on: September 20, 2019

11.6K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Synaptic Biology
  • Cortical Circuitry

Background:

  • Understanding synaptic structure across cortical layers is key to brain function.
  • Primate visual cortex (V1) has distinct input and output layers with unique roles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantitatively compare synaptic structure between primate V1 input (layer 4C) and output (layer 3B) layers.
  • To investigate laminar differences in synaptic bouton morphology, density, and mitochondrial content.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) for detailed synaptic analysis.
  • Quantified synaptic density, bouton classification (single/multi-synapse, mitochondrial content), bouton volume, PSD area, and postsynaptic targets.

Main Results:

  • Layer 4C showed a higher abundance of large, multisynaptic boutons with mitochondria (MSBm+), likely thalamocortical terminals.
  • MSBm+ boutons in layer 4C were larger, contacted dendritic spines more frequently, and contained more mitochondria than other types.
  • Layer 3B exhibited fewer MSBm+ boutons, which were smaller and formed fewer synapses compared to layer 4C.

Conclusions:

  • Significant laminar differences exist in synaptic bouton architecture within the primate V1.
  • Thalamocortical synapses in layer 4C appear structurally optimized for high synaptic efficacy.
  • Findings provide a quantitative framework for primate V1 synaptic organization and sensory processing.