The neocortex covers the majority of the brain surface in humans and is typically associated with the high cognitive capabilities of primates. The junior research group "Brain Development and Evolution" studies the development and evolution of the neocortex across various primate species. The goal is to understand how differences in the size and folding of the neocortex arise among different primates. To achieve this, we utilize brain organoids from various primates. These three-dimensional, tissue-like structures, only a few millimeters in size, are derived from pluripotent stem cells and replicate many characteristics of the developing neocortex.
Publications
- Eşiyok, N., Liutikaite, N., Haffner, C. [...] Heide, M. (2025)
A dyad of human-specific NBPF14 and NOTCH2NLB orchestrates cortical progenitor abundance crucial for human neocortex expansion
Science Advances 11, eads7543 - DOI - - Tynianskaia, L. & Heide, M (2024)
Human-specific genetic hallmarks in neocortical development: focus on neural progenitors
Current Opinion in Genetics & Development 89, 102267 - DOI - - Huttner, W.B., Heide, M., Mora-Bermudez, F. & Namba, T. (2024)
Neocortical neurogenesis in development and evolution–Human-specific features
Journal of Comparative Neurology, 532, e25576 - DOI - - Eşiyok, N. & Heide, M. (2023)
The SVZ stem cell niche–components, functions and in vitro modelling
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 11, 1332901 - DOI - - Tynianskaia, L., Eşiyok, N., Huttner, W. B. & Heide, M. (2023)
Targeted microinjection and electroporation of primate cerebral organoids for genetic modification
J. Vis. Exp. 193, e65176 - DOI -
