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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
08:49
Visualization of Cortical Modules in Flattened Mammalian Cortices
Published on: January 22, 2018
Sulcal pleating captures functional boundaries in human visual cortex
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|August 1, 2026
Summary
Hidden brain folds within the human visual cortex's sulci are linked to functional organization. These mesoscale folding patterns accurately predict visual field map boundaries and correlate with individual visual behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human brain anatomy
- Cortical folding
Background:
- Cortical folding, particularly major sulci and gyri, influences brain function.
- The functional significance of smaller folds hidden within sulci remains unclear.
- The human visual cortex serves as a model for studying these relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional relevance of hidden cortical folds within the human visual cortex.
- To determine if these hidden folds relate to functional specialization and boundaries.
- To explore the link between hidden gyri, cytoarchitecture, and visual behavior.
Main Methods:
- Combined structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in separate participant groups.
- Identification of four hidden brain folds within the dorsal visual stream's major sulcus.
- Analysis of spatial consistency, colocalization with cytoarchitectonic regions, and correlation with visual behaviors.
Main Results:
- Spatial consistency of hidden folds across individuals relates to functional boundaries of the visual cortex.
- Boundaries of visual field maps in the dorsal stream were predictable from hidden gyri.
- Hidden gyri colocalize with cytoarchitectonic regions and their variability correlates with individual visual behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Mesoscale pleating patterns within human sulci represent a novel neuroanatomic framework.
- These hidden folds are functionally and behaviorally relevant, impacting visual cortex organization.
- The study provides evidence for the functional significance of previously overlooked cortical features.
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