Soraia Barao

Keywords neurogenesis neural progenitor cells neurodevelopment neocortex evolution The cellular basis of neocortical development The evolutionary expansion and increased complexity of the cerebral cortex are among the most distinctive features of the human brain, underpinning advanced cognitive functions such as abstract reasoning, language, cultural transmission, and self-awareness.

Abstract The neocortex varies in size and complexity among mammals due to the tremendous variability in the number and diversity of neuronal subtypes across species. The increased cellular diversity is paralleled by the expansion of the pool of neocortical progenitors and the emergence of indirect neurogenesis during brain evolution. The molecular pathways that control these biological processes and are disrupted in neurological disorders remain largely unknown.

Abstract The mammalian neocortex differs vastly in size and complexity between mammalian species, yet the mechanisms that lead to an increase in brain size during evolution are not known. We show here that two transcription factors coordinate gene expression programs in progenitor cells of the neocortex to regulate their proliferative capacity and neuronal output in order to determine brain size.