Cited by 1,565Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsDevelopmental Biology and Gene RegulationGenetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Evolution of the neocortex: a perspective from developmental biology

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Rakic, Pasko·2009·Nature reviews. Neuroscience

Abstract

The enlargement and species-specific elaboration of the cerebral neocortex during evolution holds the secret to the mental abilities of humans; however, the genetic origin and cellular mechanisms that generated the distinct evolutionary advancements are not well understood. This article describes how novelties that make us human may have been introduced during evolution, based on findings in the embryonic cerebral cortex in different mammalian species. The data on the differences in gene expression, new molecular pathways and novel cellular interactions that have led to these evolutionary advances may also provide insight into the pathogenesis and therapies for human-specific neuropsychiatric disorders.

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  • Archicortex and paleocortex are considered evolutionarily older structures, whereas iso/neocortex emerged later and substantially expanded in vertebrate evolution.

    “Archicortex and paleocortex are considered evolutionarily older structures, whereas iso/neocortex emerged later and substantially expanded in vertebrate evolution”
  • The cortex is partitioned into multiple areas with specific input and output connections with many subcortical and other cortical regions.

    “The cortex is partitioned into multiple areas with specific input and output connections with many subcortical and other cortical regions”

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Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. [4]Preuss TM Gazzaniga MS The cognitive neuroscience of human uniqueness The Cognitive Neuroscience IV in the press The MIT Press Cambridge, MA 2009
  2. [10]Goldman-Rakic PS Plum F Circuitry of primate prefrontal cortex and regulation of behavior by representational memory in Handbook of Physiology The Nervous System, Higher Functions of the Brain Bethesda, Md Am. Physiol. Soc Section I V Part 1 Chapter 9 373 417 1987
  3. [63]Kaas JH Preuss TM Evolution of Nervous Systems The Evolution of Primate Nervous Systems 4 Elsevier Oxford, U.K 2007
  4. [94]DeFelipe J Cortical interneurons: from Cajal to 2001 Progr Brain Res 136 215 238 2002 12143384
  5. [104]Rakic S Zecevic N Emerging complexity of cortical layer I in humans Cereb Cortex 13 1072 1083 2003 12967924
  6. [138]King MC Wilson AC Evolution at two levels in humans and chimpanzees Science 188 107 16 1975 1090005

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Authors
Rakic, P.
Affiliations
Yale University (US)
Corresponding author
Rakic, Pasko
Venue
Nature reviews. Neuroscience
Published
2009-10
Volume
10
Issue
10
Pages
724-735
ISSN
  • 1471-003X (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0048
OpenAlex
W2152294954
Cited by
1,565
References
147
Citations by year
2026: 59 · 2025: 101 · 2024: 116 · 2023: 110 · 2022: 123 · 2021: 114 · 2020: 142 · 2019: 92 · 2018: 106 · 2017: 78 · 2016: 84 · 2015: 81 · 2014: 85 · 2013: 84 · 2012: 72
FWCI
5.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature reviews. Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS014841, R01NS038296)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Keywords
neocortex evolution, neuronal migration, neuron number, genetic mutations, mammalian brain evolution, embryonic cerebral cortex, gene expression, neuropsychiatric disorders, cognitive ability
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Physiological, Animals, Biological Evolution, Humans, Models, Biological, Neurons, Species Specificity, Developmental Biology, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Neocortex

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