Development and Evolution of Thalamocortical Connectivity

Molnár, Zoltán; Kwan, Kenneth Y.

doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a041503

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 125 publications

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“…Evidence suggests there is considerable interplay between thalamic and cortical development (Antón-Bolaños et al, 2018). Thalamocortical connectivity contributes to the arealisation of the cortex (Cadwell et al, 2019; Molnár & Kwan, 2024), and are involved in shaping the laminar organisation of the cortex (Dehay et al, 2001; Molnár & Kwan, 2024), regulating cortical progenitors (Gerstmann et al, 2015), and the initialisation of functional dynamics (Antón-Bolaños et al, 2018; Martini et al, 2021). According to the “handshake hypothesis”, ascending thalamic and descending cortical fibres meet in the subplate and reciprocally guide the tracts to their respective cortical and thalamic targets (Molnár et al, 2012; Molnár & Blakemore, 1995), further suggesting interactions between cortical and thalamic development are vital to shaping both structures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of thalamocortical connectivity during the third trimester

Oldham,

Mansour L.,

Ball

2024

Preprint

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Thalamocortical connections are crucial for relaying sensory information in the brain and facilitate essential functions including motor skills, emotion, and cognition. Emerging evidence suggests that thalamocortical connections are organised along spatial gradients that may reflect their sequential formation during early brain development. However, this has not been extensively characterised in humans. To examine early thalamocortical development, we analysed diffusion MRI data from 345 infants, scanned between 29-45 weeks gestational age. Using diffusion tractography, we mapped thalamocortical connectivity in each neonate and used Principal Component Analysis to extract shared spatial patterns of connectivity. We identified a primary axis of connectivity that varied along an anterior/medial to posterior/lateral gradient within the thalamus, with corresponding projections to cortical areas varying along a rostral-caudal direction. The primary patterns of thalamocortical connectivity were present at 30 weeks’ gestational age and gradually refined during gestation. This refinement was largely driven by the maturation of connections between the thalamus and cortical association areas. Differences in thalamocortical connectivity between preterm and term neonates were only weakly related to primary thalamocortical gradients, suggesting a relative preservation of these features following premature birth. Overall, our results indicate that the organisation of structural thalamocortical connections are highly conserved across individuals, develop early in gestation and gradually mature with age.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of thalamocortical connectivity during the third trimester

Oldham,

Mansour L.,

Ball

2024

Preprint

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“…This 'handshake' between the two sets of fibres from different origins is thought to play an important role in the subsequent guidance of thalamic fibres towards the appropriate region of cortex (10). Subsequent evidence based on various genetic manipulations confirms this guidance role (Molnár & Kwan 2024).…”

Section: How Do Cortical Areas Emerge?mentioning

confidence: 96%

Sir Colin Brian Blakemore. 1 June 1944—27 June 2022

Molnár,

Parker

2024

Biogr. Mems Fell. R. Soc.

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Colin Blakemore was a giant of neuroscience, whose direct research contributions shaped our modern knowledge of vision and the senses, as well as neural development, plasticity and degeneration. His early work revealed that manipulation of the sensory environment exerts a profound influence on the growing nervous system, establishing that the activation of nerve cells is directly linked to the successful maintenance of these cells’ connections with the rest of the brain. These and many later findings set the scene for understanding that the computational functions of the brain are the outcome of adaptive processes, which continue through adult life in many cases. Publicly, Colin's distinctive voice was well known in broadcast media, notably being the youngest ever presenter of the BBC Reith Lectures at the age of 32. Colin became a regular communicator of the rapidly growing field of neuroscience and an effective advocate for the scientific understanding of our brains, bodies and mental life. He unflinchingly undertook the role of justifying the need for animal research to play its part in the development of science and medical treatment, even though sometimes this brought vilification, and even threats. Colin held many public-facing roles for scientific bodies, of which the most significant was his time as chief executive of the Medical Research Council. More personally, Colin's role as a mentor will always be remembered by his students, who benefited from Colin's remarkable ability to pause all his other activities and focus upon their scientific work and future careers.

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“…They produce and secrete reelin, whose gradient acts as a guidance cue for neuronal migration [23,63]. This neuronal population, along with another transient population of early-born subplate (SP) neurons at the apical side of the CP, undergoes apoptosis at the end of development [23,63,64]. Neurogenesis in the developing neocortex follows a precisely regulated spatiotemporal order of events.…”

Section: Neurogenesis In the Prenatal Neocortexmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Vessels to Neurons—The Role of Hypoxia Pathway Proteins in Embryonic Neurogenesis

Stepien,

Wielockx

2024

Cells

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Embryonic neurogenesis can be defined as a period of prenatal development during which divisions of neural stem and progenitor cells give rise to neurons. In the central nervous system of most mammals, including humans, the majority of neocortical neurogenesis occurs before birth. It is a highly spatiotemporally organized process whose perturbations lead to cortical malformations and dysfunctions underlying neurological and psychiatric pathologies, and in which oxygen availability plays a critical role. In case of deprived oxygen conditions, known as hypoxia, the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signaling pathway is activated, resulting in the selective expression of a group of genes that regulate homeostatic adaptations, including cell differentiation and survival, metabolism and angiogenesis. While a physiological degree of hypoxia is essential for proper brain development, imbalanced oxygen levels can adversely affect this process, as observed in common obstetrical pathologies such as prematurity. This review comprehensively explores and discusses the current body of knowledge regarding the role of hypoxia and the HIF pathway in embryonic neurogenesis of the mammalian cortex. Additionally, it highlights existing gaps in our understanding, presents unanswered questions, and provides avenues for future research.

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Development and Evolution of Thalamocortical Connectivity

Cited by 9 publications

References 125 publications

Development of thalamocortical connectivity during the third trimester

Development of thalamocortical connectivity during the third trimester

Sir Colin Brian Blakemore. 1 June 1944—27 June 2022

From Vessels to Neurons—The Role of Hypoxia Pathway Proteins in Embryonic Neurogenesis

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