Neurobiology of Neocortex

Cerebral cortex is the crowning achievement of brain evolution. It is considered to be the site of maintenance and human creativity and is involved in major neurological and psychiatric disorders. This book provides a hypothesis of how this large assembly of neurons develops, reviews up-to-date axonal connections and local synaptic circuits, and gives a synthesis of its complex functions that range from perception and motor control to abstract thinking. The participants of this Dahlem workshop, who vary in their scientific expertise, convey the vigor of this exciting neurobiological field and suggest proposals for further research.

Comprises the proceedings of a Dahlem workshop held in Berlin, May 1987. Contributors address the phylogenic evolution and ontogenetic development of neocortical structures, the structure and biochemical organization of cortical networks, the functional organization of cortical processes both within and between particular areas, and the relationship between system properties and higher nervous functions such as those assessed with neurophychological and behavioral testing.