Cytoarchitecture of the cerebral cortex--more than localization

Neuroimage. 2007 Oct 1;37(4):1061-5; discussion 1066-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.02.037. Epub 2007 Mar 3.

Abstract

The present paper reviews that macroanatomical landmarks are problematic for a reliable and sufficiently precise localization of clusters of activation obtained by functional imaging because sulcal and gyral patterns are extremely variable and macroanatomical landmarks do not match (in nearly all cases) architectonically defined borders. It argues that cytoarchitectonic probabilistic maps currently offer the most precise tool for the localization of brain functions as obtained from functional imaging studies. Finally, it provides some examples that cytoarchitecture is more than localization with respect to a particular brain region because it reflects the inner organization of cortical areas and, furthermore, functional principles of the brain.

Publication types

  • Comment
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Auditory Cortex / anatomy & histology
  • Auditory Cortex / physiology
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cerebral Cortex / anatomy & histology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / statistics & numerical data
  • Macaca
  • Models, Statistical
  • Motor Cortex / anatomy & histology
  • Motor Cortex / physiology
  • Visual Cortex / anatomy & histology
  • Visual Cortex / physiology