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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
09:55
Large-scale Three-dimensional Imaging of Cellular Organization in the Mouse Neocortex
Published on: September 5, 2018
9.0K
An opposing molecular gradient axis underlies primate cortical organization.
Zhi Huang1,2,3, Qianqian Yang1,4,5, Shenglong Li1,2,3
1Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 16, 2026
Summary
Two opposing molecular gradients organize primate brain development and connectivity. These gradients, refined after birth, offer insights into cortical organization and evolution, particularly in auditory processing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genomics
- Comparative Biology
Background:
- Cellular diversity and connectivity in primate brains are not fully understood.
- Existing hypotheses on cortical expansion lack comprehensive integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify fundamental organizational principles of the primate cerebral cortex.
- To investigate the molecular basis of cortical organization and evolution.
Main Methods:
- Integrated spatial transcriptomics, magnetic resonance imaging, and retrograde labeling in marmosets.
- Analyzed gene expression patterns and thalamocortical projections.
- Performed comparative analysis of gradient-related genes across species.
Main Results:
- Identified two opposing molecular gradients emanating from allocortices and primary sensory cortices.
- Demonstrated that these gradients align with thalamic gene expression and projection patterns.
- Found conserved molecular features in the default mode network and frontal pole between humans and marmosets.
Conclusions:
- Opposing molecular gradients represent a fundamental organizing principle of the primate cortex.
- These gradients contribute to understanding cortical area characterization and evolution.
- Insights into auditory cortex evolution may be linked to complex vocalization patterns.
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