The natural axis of transmitter receptor distribution in the human cerebral cortex

TY - JOUR

T1 - The natural axis of transmitter receptor distribution in the human cerebral cortex

AU - Goulas, Alexandros

AU - Changeux, Jean-Pierre

AU - Wagstyl, Konrad

AU - Amunts, Katrin

AU - Palomero-Gallagher, Nicola

AU - Hilgetag, Claus C

N1 - Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.

PY - 2021/1/19

Y1 - 2021/1/19

N2 - Transmitter receptors constitute a key component of the molecular machinery for intercellular communication in the brain. Recent efforts have mapped the density of diverse transmitter receptors across the human cerebral cortex with an unprecedented level of detail. Here, we distill these observations into key organizational principles. We demonstrate that receptor densities form a natural axis in the human cerebral cortex, reflecting decreases in differentiation at the level of laminar organization and a sensory-to-association axis at the functional level. Along this natural axis, key organizational principles are discerned: progressive molecular diversity (increase of the diversity of receptor density); excitation/inhibition (increase of the ratio of excitatory-to-inhibitory receptor density); and mirrored, orderly changes of the density of ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. The uncovered natural axis formed by the distribution of receptors aligns with the axis that is formed by other dimensions of cortical organization, such as the myelo- and cytoarchitectonic levels. Therefore, the uncovered natural axis constitutes a unifying organizational feature linking multiple dimensions of the cerebral cortex, thus bringing order to the heterogeneity of cortical organization.

AB - Transmitter receptors constitute a key component of the molecular machinery for intercellular communication in the brain. Recent efforts have mapped the density of diverse transmitter receptors across the human cerebral cortex with an unprecedented level of detail. Here, we distill these observations into key organizational principles. We demonstrate that receptor densities form a natural axis in the human cerebral cortex, reflecting decreases in differentiation at the level of laminar organization and a sensory-to-association axis at the functional level. Along this natural axis, key organizational principles are discerned: progressive molecular diversity (increase of the diversity of receptor density); excitation/inhibition (increase of the ratio of excitatory-to-inhibitory receptor density); and mirrored, orderly changes of the density of ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. The uncovered natural axis formed by the distribution of receptors aligns with the axis that is formed by other dimensions of cortical organization, such as the myelo- and cytoarchitectonic levels. Therefore, the uncovered natural axis constitutes a unifying organizational feature linking multiple dimensions of the cerebral cortex, thus bringing order to the heterogeneity of cortical organization.

U2 - 10.1073/pnas.2020574118

DO - 10.1073/pnas.2020574118

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 33452137

VL - 118

JO - P NATL ACAD SCI USA

JF - P NATL ACAD SCI USA

SN - 0027-8424

IS - 3

M1 - e2020574118

ER -