Conscious perception in mammals depends on precise circuit connectivity between cerebral
cortex and thalamus; the evolution and development of these structures are closely linked …

Evolutionary changes in human brain structure and function have enabled our specialized
cognitive abilities. How these changes have come about genetically and functionally has …

The human brain is a complex, adaptive system comprised of billions of cells with trillions of
connections. The interactions between the elements of the system oppose this seemingly …

Salamanders are tetrapod models to study brain organization and regeneration; however,
the identity and evolutionary conservation of brain cell types are largely unknown. We …

The evolution of advanced cognition in vertebrates is associated with two independent
innovations in the forebrain: the six-layered neocortex in mammals and the dorsal …

A longstanding issue in biology is whether the intelligence of animals can be predicted by
absolute or relative brain size. However, progress has been hampered by an insufficient …

The size of the cerebral cortex increases dramatically across amniotes, from reptiles to great
apes. This is primarily due to different numbers of neurons and glial cells produced during …

With the discovery of the incredible diversity of neurons, Cajal and coworkers laid the
foundation of modern neuroscience. Neuron types are not only structural units of nervous …

During central nervous system (CNS) development, neural progenitor cells (NPCs) generate
neurons and glia in two different ways. In direct neurogenesis, daughter cells differentiate …

Midkine (MK) is a small secreted heparin-binding protein highly expressed during
embryonic/fetal development which, through interactions with multiple cell surface receptors …