“Origins of the prefrontal cortex, distributed association networks and human cognition”
Nenad Sestan, MD, PhD
Professor
Depts. of Neuroscience, Comparative Medicine, Genetics, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
Yale University
Host: John Rubenstein, MD, PhD
Abstract: The extraordinary abilities of the cerebral cortex are central to what sets humans apart from other species. A defining feature of the cortex is its organization along a sensorimotor-to-association (S–A) axis, extending from primary sensorimotor regions to transmodal association areas that support abstract cognition. This axis varies across species and has been profoundly remodeled in humans. In this presentation, I will discuss our recent work on the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern the development and evolution of the cortical S–A axis, with particular emphasis on the prefrontal cortex and its broader distributed transmodal association networks as well as their evolutionary expansion, functional roles, and vulnerability in neurological and psychiatric disorders.