Folding drives cortical thickness variations
Holland MA, Budday S, Li G, Shen D, Goriely A, Kuhl E (2020)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2020
Journal
Book Volume: 229
Pages Range: 2757-2778
Journal Issue: 17-18
DOI: 10.1140/epjst/e2020-000001-6
Abstract
The cortical thickness is a characteristic biomarker for a wide variety of neurological disorders. While the structural organization of the cerebral cortex is tightly regulated and evolutionarily preserved, its thickness varies widely between 1.5 and 4.5 mm across the healthy adult human brain. It remains unclear whether these thickness variations are a cause or consequence of cortical development. Recent studies suggest that cortical thickness variations are primarily a result of genetic effects. Previous studies showed that a simple homogeneous bilayered system with a growing layer on an elastic substrate undergoes a unique symmetry breaking into a spatially heterogeneous system with discrete gyri and sulci. Here, we expand on that work to explore the evolution of cortical thickness variations over time to support our finding that cortical pattern formation and thickness variations can be explained – at least in part – by the physical forces that emerge during cortical folding. Strikingly, as growth progresses, the developing gyri universally thicken and the sulci thin, even in the complete absence of regional information. Using magnetic resonance images, we demonstrate that these naturally emerging thickness variations agree with the cortical folding pattern in n = 9 healthy adult human brains, in n = 564 healthy human brains ages 7–64, and in n = 73 infant brains scanned at birth, and at ages one and two. Additionally, we show that cortical organoids develop similar patterns throughout their growth. Our results suggest that genetic, geometric, and physical events during brain development are closely interrelated. Understanding regional and temporal variations in cortical thickness can provide insight into the evolution and causative factors of neurological disorders, inform the diagnosis of neurological conditions, and assess the efficacy of treatment options.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
University of Notre Dame du Lac
United States (USA) (US)
University of Oxford
United Kingdom (GB)
Stanford University
United States (USA) (US)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
United States (USA) (US)
United States (USA) (US)
University of Oxford
United Kingdom (GB)
Stanford University
United States (USA) (US)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
United States (USA) (US)
How to cite
APA:
Holland, M.A., Budday, S., Li, G., Shen, D., Goriely, A., & Kuhl, E. (2020). Folding drives cortical thickness variations. European Physical Journal - Special Topics, 229(17-18), 2757-2778. https://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2020-000001-6
MLA:
Holland, Maria A., et al. "Folding drives cortical thickness variations." European Physical Journal - Special Topics 229.17-18 (2020): 2757-2778.
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