Download Laminar and Columnar organization of the cerebral cortex

LAMINAR AND COLUMNAR
ORGANIZATION OF THE
CEREBRAL CORTEX
Czipczer Vanda
The cortex is organized horizontally into six
laminae, and vertically into groups of cells
linked synaptically across the horizontal
laminae.
Laminar
organization
◦ The appearance of the neocortex - the region
of cerebral cortex nearest the surface of the
brain - depends on what is used to stain it. The
Golgi stain reveals a subset of neuronal cell
bodies, axons, and dendritic trees. The Nissl
method shows cell bodies and proximal dendrites.
The Weigert stain reveals the pattern of
myelinated fibers.
Columnar
organization
◦ The columnar organization of cortical neurons
is a consequence of the pattern of connections
between neurons in different layers. The
dendrites and axons of most cortical neurons
extend vertically from the surface to white matter,
forming the anatomical basis of the columnar
structure of the cortex.
◦ These columns are also called cortical modules.
Thank you for your attention!
Sources:
◦ Siegelbaum, Steven A., and A. J. Hudspeth. Principles of neural science. Eds. Eric R. Kandel, James H. Schwartz,
and Thomas M. Jessell. Vol. 4. New York: McGraw-hill, 2000.
◦ http://home.swipnet.se/allez/NS/SA78/SA78.HTM
◦ http://www.shadmehrlab.org/Courses/physfound_files/wang_5.pdf
◦ MOUNTCASTLE, Vernon B. The columnar organization of the neocortex. Brain, 1997, 120.4: 701-722.