Cited by 93Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsDevelopmental Biology and Gene RegulationGenetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Evolution and development of the mammalian cerebral cortex

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Molnár, Zoltán, Kaas, Jon H., de Carlos, Juan A., Hevner, Robert F., Lein, Ed, Němec, Pavel·2014·Brain Behavior and Evolution

Abstract

Comparative developmental studies of the mammalian brain can identify key changes that can generate the diverse structures and functions of the brain. We have studied how the neocortex of early mammals became organized into functionally distinct areas, and how the current level of cortical cellular and laminar specialization arose from the simpler premammalian cortex. We demonstrate the neocortical organization in early mammals, which helps to elucidate how the large, complex human brain evolved from a long line of ancestors. The radial and tangential enlargement of the cortex was driven by changes in the patterns of cortical neurogenesis, including alterations in the proportions of distinct progenitor types. Some cortical cell populations travel to the cortex through tangential migration whereas others migrate radially. A number of recent studies have begun to characterize the chick, mouse and human and nonhuman primate cortical transcriptome to help us understand how gene expression relates to the development and anatomical and functional organization of the adult neocortex. Although all mammalian forms share the basic layout of cortical areas, the areal proportions and distributions are driven by distinct evolutionary pressures acting on sensory and motor experiences during the individual ontogenies.

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  • The human brain has evolved dramatically in the last 2-3 million years, gaining novel circuits, cell types, and signaling pathways that are rare or absent in animal models.

    “Functional studies of human neurogenetic mutations are obviously challenging, due to the fact that the human brain has evolved dramatically in the last 2–3 million years, gaining novel circuits, cell types, and signaling pathways that are rare or absent in animal models (Geschwind and Rakic, 2013; Molnar et al., 2014; Paabo, 2014).”

    From Genetic Changes Shaping the Human Brain (2015) · cites this paper as Molnar et al., 2014

  • Functional studies of human neurogenetic mutations are challenging because the human brain has evolved novel circuits, cell types, and signaling pathways that are rare or absent in animal models.

    “Functional studies of human neurogenetic mutations are obviously challenging, due to the fact that the human brain has evolved dramatically in the last 2–3 million years, gaining novel circuits, cell types, and signaling pathways that are rare or absent in animal models (Geschwind and Rakic, 2013; Molnar et al., 2014; Paabo, 2014).”

    From Genetic Changes Shaping the Human Brain (2015) · cites this paper as Molnar et al., 2014

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Authors
Molnár, Z., Kaas, J. H., de Carlos, J. A., Hevner, R. F., Lein, E., & Němec, P.
Affiliations
  • University of Oxford (GB)
  • Vanderbilt University (US)
  • Seattle Children's Research Institute (US)
  • Allen Institute for Brain Science (US)
  • Charles University (CZ)
Venue
Brain Behavior and Evolution
Publisher
S. Karger AG
Published
2014
Volume
83
Issue
2
Pages
126-139
ISSN
  • 0006-8977 (ISSN-L)
  • 1421-9743
OpenAlex
W1490017765
Cited by
93
References
105
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 1
FWCI
3.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain Behavior and Evolution (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/I021833/1, BB/F003285/1)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (HHSN271200800047C, RC2MH089921, R21MH087070, R01MH080766)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS016446, R01NS085081)
  • National Center for Research Resources (P51RR000169)
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, cortical lamination, cortical neurogenesis, cortical transcriptome, cortical cell types, comparative neuroanatomy
MeSH terms
Animals, Cerebral Cortex, Biological Evolution, Humans, Mammals, Neurons, Neocortex, Neurogenesis

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