What is a cortical Minicolumn?
What is a cortical Minicolumn?
Minicolumns are structural modular arrangements of connected networks of neurons, based on a core of radially arranged pyramidal projection neurons in the cortex that are considered essential elements in cortical information processing (Casanova & Tilquist 2008).
What is a Minicolumn?
The minicolumn is a sophisticated local network that contains within it the elements for redundancy and plasticity. Although it is sometimes compared to subcortical nuclei, the design of the minicolumn is a distinctive form of module that has evolved specifically in the neocortex.
What is the neuroanatomy of autism?
Autism spectrum disorder is a heterogeneous, behaviorally defined, neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs in 1 in 150 children. Individuals with autism have deficits in social interaction and verbal and nonverbal communication and have restricted or stereotyped patterns of behavior.
What part of the brain is underdeveloped in autism?
The cerebellum is one of the key brain regions affected by autism. The researchers found that neurons that lacked the RNF8 protein formed about 50 percent more synapses — the connections that allow neurons to send signals from one to another — than those with the gene.
What is population coding?
Population coding is the quantitative study of which algorithms or representations are used by the brain to combine together and evaluate the messages carried by different neurons. Here, we review an information-theory-based approach to population coding.
How does autism spectrum disorder affect the brain?
In the autistic brain, the brain reduced connectivity, known as hypoconnectivity, allows weakly connected regions to drift apart, with sulci forming between them.” Research has shown the deeper theses sulcal pits are, the more language production is affected.
What causes autism in child?
Genetics. Several different genes appear to be involved in autism spectrum disorder. For some children, autism spectrum disorder can be associated with a genetic disorder, such as Rett syndrome or fragile X syndrome. For other children, genetic changes (mutations) may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder.
What is cortical function in the brain?
KEY POINTS. The cerebral cortex, the largest part of the brain, is the ultimate control and information-processing center in the brain. The cerebral cortex is responsible for many higher-order brain functions such as sensation, perception, memory, association, thought, and voluntary physical action.
What are cortical areas?
The cortex can be divided into three functionally distinct areas: sensory, motor, and associative. The main sensory areas of the brain include the primary auditory cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, and primary visual cortex.