Cytoarchitecture and Cortical Connections of the Anterior Insula and Adjacent Frontal Motor Fields in the Rhesus Monkey.

Cytoarchitecture and Cortical Connections of the Anterior Insula and Adjacent Frontal Motor Fields in the Rhesus Monkey.
Brain Res Bull. 2015 Oct 20;
Authors: Morecraft RJ, Stilwell-Morecraft KS, Ge J, Cipolloni PB, Pandya DN
Abstract
The cytoarchitecture and cortical connections of the ventral motor region are investigated using Nissl, and NeuN staining methods and the fluorescent retrograde tract tracing technique in the rhesus monkey. On the basis of gradual laminar differentiation, it is shown that the ventral motor region stems from the ventral proisocortical area (anterior insula and dorsal Sylvian opercular region). The cytoarchitecture of the ventral motor region is shown to progress in three lines, as we have recently shown for the dorsal motor region. Namely, root (anterior insular and dorsal Sylvian opercular area ProM), belt (ventral premotor cortex) and core (precentral motor cortex) lines. This stepwise architectonic organization is supported by the overall patterns of corticocortical connections. Areas in each line are sequentially interconnected (intralineal connections) and all lines are interconnected (interlinear connections). Moreover, root areas, as well as some of the belt areas of the ventral and dorsal trend are interconnected. The ventral motor region is also connected with the ventral somatosensory areas in a topographic manner. The root and belt areas of ventral motor region are connected with paralimbic, m...

Source: Brain Research Bulletin - October 20, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Morecraft RJ, Stilwell-Morecraft KS, Ge J, Cipolloni PB, Pandya DN Tags: Brain Res Bull Source Type: research