The Journal of Neuroscience, August 15, 2002, 22(16):7206-7217
Genetic Influence on Quantitative Features of Neocortical
Architecture
Matthias
Kaschube1, 2, *,
Fred
Wolf1, 3, *,
Theo
Geisel1, and
Siegrid
Löwel2
1 Max-Planck-Institut für
Strömungsforschung and Fakultät für Physik,
Universität Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany,
2 Forschergruppe "Visuelle Entwicklung und
Plastizität," Leibniz-Institut für Neurobiologie, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany, and 3 Institute for Theoretical
Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106
The layout of functional cortical maps exhibits a high degree of
interindividual variability that may account for individual differences
in sensory and cognitive abilities. By quantitatively assessing the
interindividual variability of orientation preference columns in the
primary visual cortex, we demonstrate that column sizes and shapes as
well as a measure of the homogeneity of column sizes across the visual
cortex are significantly clustered in genetically related animals and
in the two hemispheres of individual brains. Taking the developmental
timetable of column formation into account, our data indicate a
substantial genetic influence on the developmental specification of
visual cortical architecture and suggest ways in which genetic
information may influence an individual's visual abilities.
Key words:
visual cortex; development; orientation columns; cortical
maps; area 17; genetic determination
*
M.K. and F.W. contributed equally to this work.