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The cerebral cortex is responsible for higher-order functions in the nervous system and has undergone substantial expansion in size in primates. The development of the forebrain, including the assembly of the expanded human cerebral cortex, is a lengthy process that involves the diversification and expansion of neural progenitors, the generation and positioning of layer-specific glutamatergic neurons, the cellular migration of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)–ergic neurons, and the formation and maturation of glial cells. Disruption of these cellular events by either genetic or environmental factors can lead to neurodevelopmental disease, including autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability.

Human forebrain development is, to a large extent, inaccessible for cellular-level study, direct functional investigation, or manipulation. The lack of availability of primary brain tissue samples …