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Quabs J, Caspers S, Schöne C, Mohlberg H, Bludau S, Dickscheid T, Amunts K. Cytoarchitecture, probability maps and segregation of the human insula. Neuroimage 2022; 260:119453. [PMID: 35809885 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The human insular cortex supports multifunctional integration including interoceptive, sensorimotor, cognitive and social-emotional processing. Different concepts of the underlying microstructure have been proposed over more than a century. However, a 3D map of the cytoarchitectonic segregation of the insula in standard reference space, that could be directly linked to neuroimaging experiments addressing different cognitive tasks, is not yet available. Here we analyzed the middle posterior and dorsal anterior insula with image analysis and a statistical mapping procedure to delineate cytoarchitectonic areas in ten human postmortem brains. 3D-probability maps of seven new areas with granular (Ig3, posterior), agranular (Ia1, posterior) and dysgranular (Id2-Id6, middle to dorsal anterior) cytoarchitecture have been calculated to represent the new areas in stereotaxic space. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on cytoarchitecture resulted in three distinct clusters in the superior posterior, inferior posterior and dorsal anterior insula, providing deeper insights into the structural organization of the insula. The maps are openly available to support future studies addressing relations between structure and function in the human insula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Quabs
- C. and O. Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Germany.
| | - Svenja Caspers
- Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Germany
| | - Claudia Schöne
- C. and O. Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hartmut Mohlberg
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Bludau
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Germany
| | - Timo Dickscheid
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Germany
| | - Katrin Amunts
- C. and O. Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Germany
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2
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Pirone A, Graïc J, Grisan E, Cozzi B. The claustrum of the sheep and its connections to the visual cortex. J Anat 2021; 238:1-12. [PMID: 32885430 PMCID: PMC7755083 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study analyses the organization and selected neurochemical features of the claustrum and visual cortex of the sheep, based on the patterns of calcium-binding proteins expression. Connections of the claustrum with the visual cortex have been studied by tractography. Parvalbumin-immunoreactive (PV-ir) and Calbindin-immunoreactive (CB-ir) cell bodies increased along the rostro-caudal axis of the nucleus. Calretinin (CR)-labeled somata were few and evenly distributed along the rostro-caudal axis. PV and CB distribution in the visual cortex was characterized by larger round and multipolar cells for PV, and more bitufted neurons for CB. The staining pattern for PV was the opposite of that of CR, which showed densely stained but rare cell bodies. Tractography shows the existence of connections with the caudal visual cortex. However, we detected no contralateral projection in the visuo-claustral interconnections. Since sheep and goats have laterally placed eyes and a limited binocular vision, the absence of contralateral projections could be of prime importance if confirmed by other studies, to rule out the role of the claustrum in stereopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pirone
- Department of Veterinary SciencesUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
| | - Jean‐Marie Graïc
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food ScienceUniversity of PadovaLegnaroItaly
| | - Enrico Grisan
- Department of Information EngineeringUniversity of PadovaVicenzaItaly,School of EngineeringLondon South Bank UniversityLondonUK
| | - Bruno Cozzi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food ScienceUniversity of PadovaLegnaroItaly
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3
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Norimoto H, Fenk LA, Li HH, Tosches MA, Gallego-Flores T, Hain D, Reiter S, Kobayashi R, Macias A, Arends A, Klinkmann M, Laurent G. A claustrum in reptiles and its role in slow-wave sleep. Nature 2020; 578:413-418. [DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-1993-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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4
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Baizer JS, Webster CJ, Baker JF. The Claustrum in the Squirrel Monkey. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2019; 303:1439-1454. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.24253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joan S. Baizer
- Department of Physiology and BiophysicsJacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo Buffalo New York
| | - Charles J. Webster
- Department of Physiology and BiophysicsJacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo Buffalo New York
| | - James F. Baker
- Department of PhysiologyNorthwestern University Medical School Chicago Illinois
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5
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O’Mara SM, Aggleton JP. Space and Memory (Far) Beyond the Hippocampus: Many Subcortical Structures Also Support Cognitive Mapping and Mnemonic Processing. Front Neural Circuits 2019; 13:52. [PMID: 31447653 PMCID: PMC6692652 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2019.00052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Memory research remains focused on just a few brain structures-in particular, the hippocampal formation (the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex). Three key discoveries promote this continued focus: the striking demonstrations of enduring anterograde amnesia after bilateral hippocampal damage; the realization that synapses in the hippocampal formation are plastic e.g., when responding to short bursts of patterned stimulation ("long-term potentiation" or LTP); and the discovery of a panoply of spatially-tuned cells, principally surveyed in the hippocampal formation (place cells coding for position; head-direction cells, providing compass-like information; and grid cells, providing a metric for 3D space). Recent anatomical, behavioral, and electrophysiological work extends this picture to a growing network of subcortical brain structures, including the anterior thalamic nuclei, rostral midline thalamic nuclei, and the claustrum. There are, for example, spatially-tuned cells in all of these regions, including cells with properties similar to place cells of the hippocampus proper. These findings add new perspectives to what had been originally been proposed-but often overlooked-half a century ago: that damage to an extended network of structures connected to the hippocampal formation results in diencephalic amnesia. We suggest these new findings extend spatial signaling in the brain far beyond the hippocampal formation, with profound implications for theories of the neural bases of spatial and mnemonic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane M. O’Mara
- School of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John P. Aggleton
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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6
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Dillingham CM, Mathiasen ML, Frost BE, Lambert MAC, Bubb EJ, Jankowski MM, Aggleton JP, O’Mara SM. The Anatomical Boundary of the Rat Claustrum. Front Neuroanat 2019; 13:53. [PMID: 31213993 PMCID: PMC6555083 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2019.00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The claustrum is a subcortical nucleus that exhibits dense connectivity across the neocortex. Considerable recent progress has been made in establishing its genetic and anatomical characteristics, however, a core, contentious issue that regularly presents in the literature pertains to the rostral extent of its anatomical boundary. The present study addresses this issue in the rat brain. Using a combination of immunohistochemistry and neuroanatomical tract tracing, we have examined the expression profiles of several genes that have previously been identified as exhibiting a differential expression profile in the claustrum relative to the surrounding cortex. The expression profiles of parvalbumin (PV), crystallin mu (Crym), and guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein), gamma 2 (Gng2) were assessed immunohistochemically alongside, or in combination with cortical anterograde, or retrograde tracer injections. Retrograde tracer injections into various thalamic nuclei were used to further establish the rostral border of the claustrum. Expression of all three markers delineated a nuclear boundary that extended considerably (∼500 μm) beyond the anterior horn of the neostriatum. Cortical retrograde and anterograde tracer injections, respectively, revealed distributions of cortically-projecting claustral neurons and cortical efferent inputs to the claustrum that overlapped with the gene marker-derived claustrum boundary. Finally, retrograde tracer injections into the thalamus revealed insular cortico-thalamic projections encapsulating a claustral area with strongly diminished cell label, that extended rostral to the striatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Dillingham
- Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | | | - Bethany E. Frost
- Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Marie A. C. Lambert
- Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Emma J. Bubb
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Maciej M. Jankowski
- Department of Neurobiology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - John P. Aggleton
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Shane M. O’Mara
- Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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7
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Hinova-Palova D, Iliev A, Landzhov B, Kotov G, Stanchev S, Georgiev GP, Kirkov V, Edelstein L, Paloff A. Ultrastructure of the dorsal claustrum in cat. I. Types of neurons. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/20023294.2019.1578636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dimka Hinova-Palova
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Alexandar Iliev
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Boycho Landzhov
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Georgi Kotov
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Stancho Stanchev
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Georgi P. Georgiev
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University Hospital St. Giovanna-ISUL, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Vidin Kirkov
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | | | - Adrian Paloff
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
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8
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Smith JB, Alloway KD, Hof PR, Orman R, Reser DH, Watakabe A, Watson GDR. The relationship between the claustrum and endopiriform nucleus: A perspective towards consensus on cross-species homology. J Comp Neurol 2018; 527:476-499. [PMID: 30225888 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
With the emergence of interest in studying the claustrum, a recent special issue of the Journal of Comparative Neurology dedicated to the claustrum (Volume 525, Issue 6, pp. 1313-1513) brought to light questions concerning the relationship between the claustrum (CLA) and a region immediately ventral known as the endopiriform nucleus (En). These structures have been identified as separate entities in rodents but appear as a single continuous structure in primates. During the recent Society for Claustrum Research meeting, a panel of experts presented data pertaining to the relationship of these regions and held a discussion on whether the CLA and En should be considered (a) separate unrelated structures, (b) separate nuclei within the same formation, or (c) subregions of a continuous structure. This review article summarizes that discussion, presenting comparisons of the cytoarchitecture, neurochemical profiles, genetic markers, and anatomical connectivity of the CLA and En across several mammalian species. In rodents, we conclude that the CLA and the dorsal endopiriform nucleus (DEn) are subregions of a larger complex, which likely performs analogous computations and exert similar effects on their respective cortical targets (e.g., sensorimotor versus limbic). Moving forward, we recommend that the field retain the nomenclature currently employed for this region but should continue to examine the delineation of these structures across different species. Using thorough descriptions of a variety of anatomical features, this review offers a clear definition of the CLA and En in rodents, which provides a framework for identifying homologous structures in primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared B Smith
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
| | - Kevin D Alloway
- Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Neural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Rena Orman
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
| | - David H Reser
- Graduate Entry Medicine Program, Monash Rural Health-Churchill, Monash University, Churchill, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Glenn D R Watson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
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9
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Hinova-Palova D, Iliev A, Edelstein L, Landzhov B, Kotov G, Paloff A. Electron microscopic study of Golgi-impregnated and gold-toned neurons and fibers in the claustrum of the cat. J Mol Histol 2018; 49:615-630. [DOI: 10.1007/s10735-018-9799-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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10
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Dillingham CM, Jankowski MM, Chandra R, Frost BE, O'Mara SM. The claustrum: Considerations regarding its anatomy, functions and a programme for research. Brain Neurosci Adv 2017; 1:2398212817718962. [PMID: 32166134 PMCID: PMC7058237 DOI: 10.1177/2398212817718962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The claustrum is a highly conserved but enigmatic structure, with connections to the entire cortical mantle, as well as to an extended and extensive range of heterogeneous subcortical structures. Indeed, the human claustrum is thought to have the highest number of connections per millimetre cubed of any other brain region. While there have been relatively few functional investigations of the claustrum, many theoretical suggestions have been put forward, including speculation that it plays a key role in the generation of consciousness in the mammalian brain. Other claims have been more circumspect, suggesting that the claustrum has a particular role in, for example, orchestrating cortical activity, spatial information processing or decision making. Here, we selectively review certain key recent anatomical, electrophysiological and behavioural experimental advances in claustral research and present evidence that calls for a reassessment of its anatomical boundaries in the rodent. We conclude with some open questions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maciej M Jankowski
- Department of Neurobiology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ruchi Chandra
- Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Bethany E Frost
- Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Shane M O'Mara
- Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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11
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Torgerson CM, Van Horn JD. A case study in connectomics: the history, mapping, and connectivity of the claustrum. Front Neuroinform 2014; 8:83. [PMID: 25426062 PMCID: PMC4227511 DOI: 10.3389/fninf.2014.00083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The claustrum seems to have been waiting for the science of connectomics. Due to its tiny size, the structure has remained remarkably difficult to study until modern technological and mathematical advancements like graph theory, connectomics, diffusion tensor imaging, HARDI, and excitotoxic lesioning. That does not mean, however, that early methods allowed researchers to assess micro-connectomics. In fact, the claustrum is such an enigma that the only things known for certain about it are its histology, and that it is extraordinarily well connected. In this literature review, we provide background details on the claustrum and the history of its study in the human and in other animal species. By providing an explanation of the neuroimaging and histology methods have been undertaken to study the claustrum thus far—and the conclusions these studies have drawn—we illustrate this example of how the shift from micro-connectomics to macro-connectomics advances the field of neuroscience and improves our capacity to understand the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carinna M Torgerson
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Institute of Neuroimaging and Informatics, University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - John D Van Horn
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Institute of Neuroimaging and Informatics, University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA, USA
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12
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Torgerson CM, Irimia A, Goh SYM, Van Horn JD. The DTI connectivity of the human claustrum. Hum Brain Mapp 2014; 36:827-38. [PMID: 25339630 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Revised: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The origin, structure, and function of the claustrum, as well as its role in neural computation, have remained a mystery since its discovery in the 17th century. Assessing the in vivo connectivity of the claustrum may bring forth useful insights with relevance to model the overall functionality of the claustrum itself. Using structural and diffusion tensor neuroimaging in N = 100 healthy subjects, we found that the claustrum has the highest connectivity in the brain by regional volume. Network theoretical analyses revealed that (a) the claustrum is a primary contributor to global brain network architecture, and that (b) significant connectivity dependencies exist between the claustrum, frontal lobe, and cingulate regions. These results illustrate that the claustrum is ideally located within the human central nervous system (CNS) connectome to serve as the putative "gate keeper" of neural information for consciousness awareness. Our findings support and underscore prior theoretical contributions about the involvement of the claustrum in higher cognitive function and its relevance in devastating neurological disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carinna M Torgerson
- The Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics (INI) and Laboratory of Neuro Imaging [LONI], Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
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13
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Evrard HC, Logothetis NK, Craig ADB. Modular architectonic organization of the insula in the macaque monkey. J Comp Neurol 2014; 522:64-97. [PMID: 23900781 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2012] [Revised: 11/30/2012] [Accepted: 07/17/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In order to provide a framework for ongoing analyses of the neuronal connections of the insular cortex of the macaque monkey using modern high-resolution methods, we examined its anatomical organization in serial coronal sections stained alternately with Nissl and Gallyas (myelin) techniques. We observed the same 15 distinct architectonic areas in 10 brains. Within the granular, dysgranular, and agranular regions described in prior studies, we identified 4, 4, and 7 distinct areas, respectively. Across brains, these areas have consistent architectonic characteristics, and in flat map reconstructions they display a consistent topological or neighborhood arrangement, despite variations in the size of individual areas between cases. The borders between areas are generally rather sharply defined. Some areas, in particular the dysgranular areas, appear to consistently contain subtle transitions that suggest possible subareas or modules within the well-delimited areas. The presence of a distinct granular area that straddles the fundus of the superior limiting sulcus over its entire posterior-to-anterior extent is consistent with the available evidence on interoceptive thalamocortical projections, and also with the tensile anchor theory of species-specific cortical gyrification. These observations are consonant with the model of homeostatic afferent processing in the primate insula, and they suggest that discrete modules within insular cortex provide the basis for its polymodal integration of all salient activity relevant to ongoing emotional behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry C Evrard
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
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14
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Baizer JS, Sherwood CC, Noonan M, Hof PR. Comparative organization of the claustrum: what does structure tell us about function? Front Syst Neurosci 2014; 8:117. [PMID: 25071474 PMCID: PMC4079070 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The claustrum is a subcortical nucleus present in all placental mammals. Many anatomical studies have shown that its inputs are predominantly from the cerebral cortex and its outputs are back to the cortex. This connectivity thus suggests that the claustrum serves to amplify or facilitate information processing in the cerebral cortex. The size and the complexity of the cerebral cortex varies dramatically across species. Some species have lissencephalic brains, with few cortical areas, while others have a greatly expanded cortex and many cortical areas. This evolutionary diversity in the cerebral cortex raises several questions about the claustrum. Does its volume expand in coordination with the expansion of cortex and does it acquire new functions related to the new cortical functions? Here we survey the organization of the claustrum in animals with large brains, including great apes and cetaceans. Our data suggest that the claustrum is not always a continuous structure. In monkeys and gorillas there are a few isolated islands of cells near the main body of the nucleus. In cetaceans, however, there are many isolated cell islands. These data suggest constraints on the possible function of the claustrum. Some authors propose that the claustrum has a more global role in perception or consciousness that requires intraclaustral integration of information. These theories postulate mechanisms like gap junctions between claustral cells or a “syncytium” to mediate intraclaustral processing. The presence of discontinuities in the structure of the claustrum, present but minimal in some primates, but dramatically clear in cetaceans, argues against the proposed mechanisms of intraclaustral processing of information. The best interpretation of function, then, is that each functional subdivision of the claustrum simply contributes to the function of its cortical partner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan S Baizer
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Chet C Sherwood
- The Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University Washington, DC, USA
| | - Michael Noonan
- Animal Behavior, Ecology and Conservation, Canisius College Buffalo Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY, USA
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15
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Johnson JI, Fenske BA, Jaswa AS, Morris JA. Exploitation of puddles for breakthroughs in claustrum research. Front Syst Neurosci 2014; 8:78. [PMID: 24860441 PMCID: PMC4030192 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Since its first identification as a thin strip of gray matter enclosed between stretches of neighboring fiber bundles, the claustrum has been considered impossible to study by many modern techniques that need a certain roominess of tissue for their application. Known as the front wall, vormauren in German from 1822, and still called avant-mur in French, we here propose a means for breaking into and through this wall, by utilizing the instances where the claustral tissue itself has broken free into more spacious dimensions. This has occurred several times in the evolution of modern mammals, and all that needs be done is to exploit these natural expansions in order to take advantage of a great panoply of technological advances now at our disposal. So here we review the kinds of breakout “puddles” that await productive exploitation, to bring our knowledge of structure and function up to the level enjoyed for other more accessible regions of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- John-Irwin Johnson
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Radiology-Anatomy, Michigan State University East Lansing, MI, USA ; Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Brian A Fenske
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Radiology-Anatomy, Michigan State University East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Amar S Jaswa
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Radiology-Anatomy, Michigan State University East Lansing, MI, USA
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16
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Cortico-amygdala-striatal circuits are organized as hierarchical subsystems through the primate amygdala. J Neurosci 2013; 33:14017-30. [PMID: 23986238 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0170-13.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The prefrontal and insula cortex, amygdala, and striatum are key regions for emotional processing, yet the amygdala's role as an interface between the cortex and striatum is not well understood. In the nonhuman primate (Macaque fascicularis), we analyzed a collection of bidirectional tracer injections in the amygdala to understand how cortical inputs and striatal outputs are organized to form integrated cortico-amygdala-striatal circuits. Overall, diverse prefrontal and insular cortical regions projected to the basal and accessory basal nuclei of the amygdala. In turn, these amygdala regions projected to widespread striatal domains extending well beyond the classic ventral striatum. Analysis of the cases in aggregate revealed a topographic colocalization of cortical inputs and striatal outputs in the amygdala that was additionally distinguished by cortical cytoarchitecture. Specifically, the degree of cortical laminar differentiation of the cortical inputs predicted amygdalostriatal targets, and distinguished three main cortico-amygdala-striatal circuits. These three circuits were categorized as "primitive," "intermediate," and "developed," respectively, to emphasize the relative phylogenetic and ontogenetic features of the cortical inputs. Within the amygdala, these circuits appeared arranged in a pyramidal-like fashion, with the primitive circuit found in all examined subregions, and subsequent circuits hierarchically layered in discrete amygdala subregions. This arrangement suggests a stepwise integration of the functions of these circuits across amygdala subregions, providing a potential mechanism through which internal emotional states are managed with external social and sensory information toward emotionally informed complex behaviors.
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Palaniyappan L, Liddle PF. Aberrant cortical gyrification in schizophrenia: a surface-based morphometry study. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2012; 37:399-406. [PMID: 22640702 PMCID: PMC3493098 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.110119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is considered to be a disorder of cerebral connectivity associated with disturbances of cortical development. Disturbances in connectivity at an early period of cortical maturation can result in widespread defects in gyrification. Investigating the anatomic distribution of gyrification defects can provide important information about neurodevelopment in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS We undertook an automated surface-based morphometric assessment of gyrification on 3-dimensionally reconstructed cortical surfaces across multiple vertices that cover the entire cortex. We used a sample from our previous research of 57 patients (50 men) with schizophrenia and 41 controls (39 men) in whom we had tested a specific hypothesis regarding presence of both hypo and hypergyria in the prefrontal cortex using a frontal region-of-interest approach. RESULTS Regions with significant reductions in gyrification (hypogyria) were seen predominantly in the left hemisphere, involving the insula and several regions of the multimodal association cortex. Although the prefrontal hypergyria documented earlier did not survive the statistical correction required for a whole brain search (cluster inclusion at p = 0.0001), significant hypergyric frontal clusters emerged when the threshold was lowered (cluster inclusion at p = 0.05). In the insula, a reduction in gyrification was related to reduced cortical thickness in patients with schizophrenia. LIMITATIONS We studied a sample of patients taking antipsychotic medications, which could have confounded the results. Our sample was predominantly male, limiting the generalizability of our findings. CONCLUSION Our observations suggest that the disturbances in cortical gyrification seen in patients with schizophrenia might be related to a disrupted interaction between the paralimbic and the multimodal association cortex and thus might contribute to the pathogenesis of the illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Palaniyappan
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, South Block, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
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