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MINI REVIEW article

Front. Cell. Neurosci.
Sec. Cellular Neurophysiology
Volume 18 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1427515
This article is part of the Research Topic Paradigm Shifts and Innovations in Cellular Neuroscience View all 5 articles

Anatomical and Molecular Development of the Human Primary Visual Cortex

Provisionally accepted
Kathryn M. Murphy Kathryn M. Murphy *Leanne Monteiro Leanne Monteiro
  • McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The human primary visual cortex (V1) development is pivotal to understanding cortical maturation and neuroplasticity. Theories on V1 development range from early maturation models, which emphasize the early peak of synapses in infancy, to those suggesting an extended developmental timeline where key plasticity mechanisms continue to mature well into adulthood. Classic histological approaches have supported early development, while recent molecular studies highlight prolonged or multiple windows of plasticity, indicating that V1 remains susceptible to experience-dependent modifications beyond childhood. This review consolidates findings from both anatomical and molecular studies, tracing the development of V1 from prenatal stages through aging. The evidence reveals that human V1 develops across multiple timescales, with some aspects maturing early and others gradually changing across the lifespan. Reflecting on Cajal’s early work, this review underscores the importance of methodological advancements in revealing the intricate details of V1's development.

    Keywords: human, Visual Cortex, V1, development, Histology, Neuroanatomy, molecular, plasticity

    Received: 03 May 2024; Accepted: 10 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Murphy and Monteiro. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Kathryn M. Murphy, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.