Cortical Morphology and Functional Connectivity in Neuroanatomy

Cortical morphology refers to the patterns of folds and grooves—gyri and sulci—on the brain’s surface, which arise during development and vary across individuals and species. These morphological features, including primary, secondary and tertiary sulci, mirror underlying cytoarchitecture and white matter pathways, thereby constraining the layout of functional networks. Functional connectivity describes the temporal correlations between spatially distinct regions, typically mapped via resting-state functional MRI, revealing core networks such as the default mode, salience and frontoparietal control systems. Integrating measures of cortical thickness, gyrification index and sulcal depth with connectivity profiles has advanced our understanding of how structural constraints shape cognitive functions, developmental trajectories and evolutionary adaptations. Cutting-edge imaging methods and machine learning now enable individual-level mapping of structure–function relationships, with applications ranging from neurosurgical planning to early detection of neurodegenerative disorders and precision psychiatry. Comparative studies in non-human primates further illuminate conserved organisational principles and human-specific expansions that underpin higher-order cognition.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent analyses have demonstrated that the posteromedial cortex exhibits markedly different sulcal patterns in humans versus chimpanzees, with species-specific variations in sulcal incidence, depth and surface area that align with unique functional specialisations in self-referential and default-mode processes. Cross-species studies of the medial frontal cortex reveal a conserved organisational blueprint of sulcal variability spanning Old World monkeys, chimpanzees and humans, linking identifiable morphological landmarks to cytoarchitectonic areas and connectivity profiles; this framework yields predictions about functional homologies and evolutionary refinements. Investigations into tertiary sulci within the lateral prefrontal cortex of children and adolescents show that individual differences in the depth of these late-forming folds correlate with reasoning performance beyond age effects, supporting classic theories that protracted sulcal development underpins higher-order cognitive maturation.

Cortical Morphology and Functional Connectivity in Neuroanatomy publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in cortical morphology and functional connectivity in neuroanatomy across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Sulcus: A groove on the cortical surface that separates adjacent gyri and often marks cytoarchitectural boundaries.

Gyrus: A ridge or fold between two sulci on the brain’s surface, typically linked to specialised functions.

Cortical thickness: The distance from the pial surface to the grey–white matter interface, indicative of cellular and synaptic density.

Functional connectivity: The statistical correlation of neural activity across distinct brain regions, used to delineate large-scale networks via functional MRI.

Tertiary sulcus: A smaller, late-emerging cortical fold that develops during late gestation or infancy and is implicated in higher-order cognitive processes.

References

1. A revised perspective on the evolution of the lateral frontal cortex in primates. Science Advances (2023).
2. Sulcal morphology of posteromedial cortex substantially differs between humans and chimpanzees. Communications Biology (2023).
3. Sulcal organization in the medial frontal cortex provides insights into primate brain evolution. Nature Communications (2019).
4. Cognitive insights from tertiary sulci in prefrontal cortex. Nature Communications (2021).
5. Anterior cingulate sulcation is associated with onset and survival in frontotemporal dementia. Brain Communications (2023).
6. Patterns and predictors of orbitofrontal sulcogyral morphology in a nonclinical population. Imaging Neuroscience (2024).
7. Toward a Common Terminology for the Gyri and Sulci of the Human Cerebral Cortex. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy (2018).