PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Sarah F. Beul
AU  - Claus C. Hilgetag
TI  - Neuron density is a fundamental determinant of structural connectivity in the primate cerebral cortex
AID  - 10.1101/117051
DP  - 2017 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 117051
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/03/15/117051.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/03/15/117051.full
AB  - Studies of structural brain connectivity have revealed many intriguing features of complex cortical networks. To advance integrative theories of cortical organisation, an understanding of how connectivity interrelates with other aspects of brain architecture is required. Recent studies have suggested that interareal connectivity may be related to macroscopic as well as microscopic features of cortical areas. However, it is unclear how these features are interdependent and which most strongly and closely relate to structural corticocortical connectivity. Here, we systematically investigated the relation of many microscopic and macroscopic architectonic features of cortical organization to cortical connectivity, using a comprehensive, up-to-date structural connectome of the primate brain. Importantly, relationships were investigated by multi-variate analyses to account for the interrelations of features. Of all considered factors, the classical architectonic parameter of neuron density was most strongly and consistently related to cortical connectivity, and in conjoint analyses largely abolished effects of other features. These results reveal neuron density as a central architectonic factor of the primate cerebral cortex that is closely related to essential aspects of brain connectivity and which determines further features of the architectonic organization of cortical areas. Our findings integrate several aspects of cortical organization, with implications for cortical development and function.