RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Bridging Cytoarchitectonics and Connectomics in Human Cerebral Cortex
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 13943
OP 13948
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2630-15.2015
VO 35
IS 41
A1 van den Heuvel, Martijn P.
A1 Scholtens, Lianne H.
A1 Feldman Barrett, Lisa
A1 Hilgetag, Claus C.
A1 de Reus, Marcel A.
YR 2015
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/35/41/13943.abstract
AB The rich variation in cytoarchitectonics of the human cortex is well known to play an important role in the differentiation of cortical information processing, with functional multimodal areas noted to display more branched, more spinous, and an overall more complex cytoarchitecture. In parallel, connectome studies have suggested that also the macroscale wiring profile of brain areas may have an important contribution in shaping neural processes; for example, multimodal areas have been noted to display an elaborate macroscale connectivity profile. However, how these two scales of brain connectivity are related—and perhaps interact—remains poorly understood. In this communication, we combined data from the detailed mappings of early twentieth century cytoarchitectonic pioneers Von Economo and Koskinas (1925) on the microscale cellular structure of the human cortex with data on macroscale connectome wiring as derived from high-resolution diffusion imaging data from the Human Connectome Project. In a cross-scale examination, we show evidence of a significant association between cytoarchitectonic features of human cortical organization—in particular the size of layer 3 neurons—and whole-brain corticocortical connectivity. Our findings suggest that aspects of microscale cytoarchitectonics and macroscale connectomics are related.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT One of the most widely known and perhaps most fundamental properties of the human cortex is its rich variation in cytoarchitectonics. At the same time, neuroimaging studies have also revealed cortical areas to vary in their level of macroscale connectivity. Here, we provide evidence that aspects of local cytoarchitecture are associated with aspects of global macroscale connectivity, providing insight into the question of how the scales of micro-organization and macro-organization of the human cortex are related.