Neocortical Neurogenesis and Circuit Assembly

The mammalian brain is an extraordinarily complex organ. The outermost part of the brain is the cerebral cortex, which plays a key role in higher-order brain functions, such as perception, language, and decision-making. Since the invention of Golgi staining, which allowed for visualization of individual neurons, defining neural circuits underlying various brain functions has been a field of intense study for over a century. In this chapter, we will discuss the formation of neocortical circuits, emphasizing on how individual components are generated and assembled during development and how early developmental processes, including neurogenesis and neuronal migration, may guide precise circuit assembly.