Abstract

The arealization of the mammalian cortex is believed to be controlled by a combination of intrinsic factors that are expressed in the cortex, and external signals, some of which are mediated through thalamic input. Recent studies on transgenic mice have identified families of molecules that are involved in thalamic axon growth, pathfinding and cortical target selection, and we are beginning to understand how thalamic projections impose cytoarchitectonic differentiation on the developing cortex. By unravelling these mechanisms further, we should be able to increase our understanding of the principles of cortical organization.

Author affiliations

1. Department of Human Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK.

Correspondence to: Zoltán Molnár¹ Email: zoltan.molnar@anat.ox.ac.uk