title: Dendritic and Axonal Architecture of Individual Pyramidal Neurons across Layers of Adult Human Neocortex.
abstract: The size and shape of dendrites and axons are strong determinants of neuronal information processing. Our knowledge on neuronal structure and function is primarily based on brains of laboratory animals. Whether it translates to human is not known since quantitative data on "full" human neuronal morphologies are lacking. Here, we obtained human brain tissue during resection surgery and reconstructed basal and apical dendrites and axons of individual neurons across all cortical layers in temporal cortex (Brodmann area 21). Importantly, morphologies did not correlate to etiology, disease severity, or disease duration. Next, we show that human L(ayer) 2 and L3 pyramidal neurons have 3-fold larger dendritic length and increased branch complexity with longer segments compared with temporal cortex neurons from macaque and mouse. Unsupervised cluster analysis classified 88% of human L2 and L3 neurons into human-specific clusters distinct from mouse and macaque neurons. Computational modeling of passive electrical properties to assess the functional impact of large dendrites indicates stronger signal attenuation of electrical inputs compared with mouse. We thus provide a quantitative analysis of "full" human neuron morphologies and present direct evidence that human neurons are not "scaled-up" versions of rodent or macaque neurons, but have unique structural and functional properties.
authors: Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: Hemanth
authors: H
authors: Mohan
authors: Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: Matthijs B
authors: MB
authors: Verhoog
authors: Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: Keerthi K
authors: KK
authors: Doreswamy
authors: Department of Neurobiology and Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors: Guy
authors: G
authors: Eyal
authors: Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: Romy
authors: R
authors: Aardse
authors: Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: Brendan N
authors: BN
authors: Lodder
authors: Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: Natalia A
authors: NA
authors: Goriounova
authors: Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: Boateng
authors: B
authors: Asamoah
authors: Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: A B Clementine
authors: AB
authors: B Brakspear
authors: Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: Colin
authors: C
authors: Groot
authors: Department of Clinical Genetics, Section Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: van der Sluis
authors: Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: Guilherme
authors: G
authors: Testa-Silva
authors: Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: Joshua
authors: J
authors: Obermayer
authors: Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: Zimbo S R M
authors: ZS
authors: Boudewijns
authors: Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: Rajeevan T
authors: RT
authors: Narayanan
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: Johannes C
authors: JC
authors: Baayen
authors: Department of Neurobiology and Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors: Idan
authors: I
authors: Segev
authors: Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: Huibert D
authors: HD
authors: Mansvelder
authors: Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
authors: Christiaan P J
authors: CP
authors: de Kock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003712:Dendrites; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019579:Neocortex / Q000166:cytology*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000166:cytology*; D055815:Young Adult