A cortex-like canonical circuit in the avian forebrain

Science, vol. 369

Abstract

Although the avian pallium seems to lack an organization akin to that of the cerebral cortex, birds exhibit extraordinary cognitive skills that are comparable to those of mammals. We analyzed the fiber architecture of the avian pallium with three-dimensional polarized light imaging and subsequently reconstructed local and associative pallial circuits with tracing techniques. We discovered an iteratively repeated, column-like neuronal circuitry across the layer-like nuclear boundaries of the hyperpallium and the sensory dorsal ventricular ridge. These circuits are connected to neighboring columns and, via tangential layer-like connections, to higher associative and motor areas. Our findings indicate that this avian canonical circuitry is similar to its mammalian counterpart and might constitute the structural basis of neuronal computation.

Authors 7

1. Martin Stacho corresponding

   Ruhr University Bochum

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany

   Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany

2. Christina Herold corresponding

   Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

   Affiliation as printed

   Cécile and Oskar Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany

3. Noemi Rook

   Ruhr University Bochum

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany

4. Hermann Wagner Aachen Institute for Biology II

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

5. Markus Axer

   Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-1, Research Center Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany

6. Katrin Amunts

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

   Affiliation as printed

   Cécile and Oskar Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-1, Research Center Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany

7. Onur Güntürkün

   Ruhr University Bochum

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany