Nenad Sestan, MD, PhD

Harvey and Kate Cushing Professor of Neuroscience

Yale University

Host(s): Steven Kushner (Faculty), Joseph Gogos (Faculty)

Origins of the Prefrontal Cortex and Cognitive Networks: Foundations of Human Uniqueness

The extraordinary abilities of the cerebral cortex are central to what sets humans apart from other species. A defining feature of the cortex is its organization along a sensorimotor-to-association (S–A) axis, extending from primary sensorimotor regions to transmodal association areas that support abstract cognition. This axis differs across species and has been profoundly reshaped in humans. In this presentation, I will discuss our recent work on the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving the development and evolution of the cortical S–A axis, with emphasis on the prefrontal cortex and transmodal networks, their evolutionary expansion, and their vulnerability in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Relevant Publications: 

Regulation of prefrontal patterning and connectivity by retinoic acid

Competing programs shape cortical sensorimotor-association axis development

Tuesdays@10 is a signature Zuckerman Institute initiative that aims to expose researchers at all levels to high-quality science and stimulate scientific discourse. The speakers featured in this series represent various fields and techniques in neuroscience, and include invited guests of the Columbia Neuroscience Seminars, the Zuckerman Institute's Local Circuits Affiliates Program, and other special seminar series through a combined, collaborative effort of one or more of the following: Columbia's Zuckerman Institute, the Center for Precision Psychiatry, the Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, the Department of Neuroscience, the Doctoral Program in Neurobiology and Behavior and the Columbia Translational Neuroscience Initiative, and with support from the Kavli Institute for Brain Science. 

More information and a full schedule can be found here.