On April 3, 2019, David Van Essen provided an overview of basic principles of cortical organization and connectivity from studies of laboratory animals and analyses of individual variability in humans. He also highlighted a new map (‘parcellation’) of the human cerebral cortex based on data from the Human Connectome Project.
His talk was part of the Simons Foundation Life Sciences lecture series.
About the Lecture
The cerebral cortex is the dominant structure of the human brain and is chiefly responsible for what makes us unique as a species and as individuals. Recent advances in noninvasive imaging combined with invasive approaches in animal models are transforming our understanding of the human brain’s structure, function, connectivity, evolution, health and development.
In this lecture, David Van Essen discussed progress in understanding the human cerebral cortex in the context of health and disease. His presentation included an overview of basic principles of cortical organization and connectivity from studies of laboratory animals and analyses of individual variability in humans. He also highlighted a new map (‘parcellation’) of the human cerebral cortex based on data from the Human Connectome Project. Comparisons of cortical organization across species reveal valuable insights about what makes us uniquely human.
About the Speaker
David Van Essen is the alumni endowed professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Washington University in St. Louis. He trained at the California Institute of Technology and Harvard University, and his research career has focused on the cerebral cortex of humans and nonhuman primates.
He has served in many leadership positions, including chair of the Anatomy and Neurobiology Department at Washington University in St. Louis and president of the Society for Neuroscience. He has received many awards for excellence in teaching and research and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
