Scientists discover a surprising secret behind the human brain’s wrinkles
Researchers at the German Primate Center have identified specific cellular processes that explain why common marmoset brains are smooth compared to the highly folded human brain. By studying brain organoids, the team found differences in neural progenitor cell development that limit neuron production and surface folding.
Why it matters
Understanding the evolutionary and developmental mechanisms of brain folding provides critical insights into human brain development and potential neurological disorders.
Most primates have relatively large brains covered in distinctive folds and grooves. However, common marmosets ( Callithrix jacchus ) are an unusual exception. These small monkeys have brains that are almost entirely smooth, with very little folding. Scientists at the German Primate Center (DPZ), the Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in G ttingen, have now identified several cellular processes that help explain this difference.
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