Development· 2014Q1· Review
Neural progenitors, neurogenesis and the evolution of the neocortex
- 649citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2014year
Short summary
The evolutionary expansion of the neocortex, particularly in humans, is linked to interspecies differences in the biology of neural progenitor cells and their neurogenic divisions.
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Key points
- Neocortex expansion is a key evolutionary development, particularly notable in humans.
- Increased neuron numbers during development are determined by neural progenitor cell divisions.
- Interspecies differences in neural progenitor biology underlie neocortex size variations.
- The review examines progenitor diversity and its role in evolutionary increases in neuron numbers.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
The neocortex is the seat of higher cognitive functions and, in evolutionary terms, is the youngest part of the mammalian brain. Since its origin, the neocortex has expanded in several mammalian lineages, and this is particularly notable in humans. This expansion reflects an increase in the number of neocortical neurons, which is determined during development and primarily reflects the number of neurogenic divisions of distinct classes of neural progenitor cells. Consequently, the evolutionary expansion of the neocortex and the concomitant increase in the numbers of neurons produced during development entail interspecies differences in neural progenitor biology. Here, we review the diversity of neocortical neural progenitors, their interspecies variations and their roles in determining the evolutionary increase in neuron numbers and neocortex size.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Development, 2014 · DOI ↗
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Field: Developmental Neuroscience
Developmental NeuroscienceNeuroscience