Similar patterns of cortical expansion during human development and evolution

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1001229107
• Publication Date: 2010-07-13T03:40:19Z
• Authors: Jason Hill; Terrie Inder; Jeffrey Neil; Donna Dierker; John Harwell; David Van Essen
• Keywords: Corticogenesis; Human brain

The cerebral cortex of the human infant at term is complexly folded in a similar fashion to adult but has only one third total surface area. By comparing 12 healthy infants born with young adults, we demonstrate that postnatal cortical expansion strikingly nonuniform: regions lateral temporal, parietal, and frontal expand nearly twice as much other insular medial occipital cortex. This differential may reflect regional differences maturity dendritic synaptic architecture birth and/or complexity adults. expression also be associated sensitivity circuits childhood experience insults. macaque monkey cortex, infer pattern evolutionary remarkably expansion. To account for this correspondence, hypothesize it beneficial recent remain less mature birth, perhaps increase influence on development these or focus prenatal resources most important early survival.