Academic Journal of Suriname 2016, 7, 617-620 Miscellaneous Overview Brodmann and cortical maps Korbinian Brodmann: cortical maps and the cytoarchitecture of the brain Joanilson S. Guimaraes 1, Jose Ronaldo Santos 2, Marco Aurelio M. Freire 3,* 1Laboratory of Experimental Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém/PA – Brazil, 2Laboratory of Behavioral and Evolutionary Neurobiology, Department of Biosciences, Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), Itabaiana/SE - Brazil 3Postgraduate Program in Health and Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, State University of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), Mossoró/RN – Brazil. Abstract When one talks about the cytoarchitecture of the cerebral cortex, we are immediately referred to the name of Korbinian Brodmann. His classic studies concerning cytoarchitectonic organization of the brain completed a century in 2009. The present article aims to contextualize some aspects of his life and work and also the impact of Brodmann’s studies on our general understanding of the cortical organization. Key words: Brain; cortical maps; cytoarchitecture; history of neuroscience Introduction When one talks about the cytoarchitecture of Brodmann was born on November 17, 1868 the cerebral cortex, we are immediately in Liggersdorf, Germany. referred to the name of Korbinian Brodmann He studied medicine in Munich, Berlin and (Fig. 1). His seminal studies concerning Freiburg, where he received his medical cytoarchitectonic brain organization license in 1895. Thereafter, he moved to the completed a century in 2009, remaining as Medical School in Lausanne, Switzerland to the main foundation of the modern carry on his medical formation, later moving comparative architectonic organization of the back to Germany to work at the University mammalian cortex. Clinic of Munich. In 1896, after convalescing from diphtheria, he opted to work as an assistant at the Neurological Clinic in the city of Alexanderbad, under supervision of the eminent anatomist Oskar Vogt. Under the influence of Vogt, Brodmann decided to focuses on the study of neurology and psychiatry. Brodmann concluded his Doctorate in 1898 in Leipzig, with the thesis entitled “A contribution to the understanding of chronic ependymal sclerosis” (Pierce, 2005). Figure 1. Korbinian Brodmann (1868-1918), public domain. Correspondence to: Marco Aurelio M. Freire, PhD. State University of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), Mossoró/RN 59607-360 Brazil Phone/Fax: +55 (84) 3315-2248. E-mail: [email protected] Available on-line July 16, 2016 Acad J Sur 2016 (7) 617-620 Brodmann and cortical maps 618 Between 1900 and 1901 he worked at the the Cerebral Cortex - The Principles of Psychiatric Clinic of Jena and Municipal Comparative Localisation in the Cerebral Mental Asylum in Frankfurt, where he met Cortex based on Cytoarchtectonics) Alois Alzheimer and felt inspired to direct his (Brodmann, 1909) (Fig. 2). studies toward neuroanatomical aspects. Yet in 1901 he joins to the Vogt’s Laboratory of Neurobiology in Berlin, where he met Max Bielschowsky. There, following the suggestion of his mentor, he initiates his famous studies of comparative cytoarchitecture in the cerebral cortex of several mammals, employing a new staining method developed by Franz Nissl some years early, and that it was named Nissl staining (or Nissl technique) in honor of its creator. Furthermore, he became the editor of Journal Editor für Psychologie und Neurologie (Journal Psychology and Neurology), a position he held until his death. In 1903, concomitantly to mieloarchitectonic and physiological studies from Oskar and Cécile Vogt (Pearce, 2004), Brodmann Figure 2. Brodmann’s map of the human brain, with successfully presented its results in the Annual the cytoarchitectonically distinct cortical areas identified by Arabic numbers, public domain. Meeting of the German Society of Psychiatry, in Jena, describing striking structural and After the publication of this study, Brodmann cellular differences across pre- and post- was appointed professor the Faculty of central gyri in the human brain, as well as its Medicine of Tübingen in 1910, maintaining an anatomical limits (Olry, 2010). intense scientific production, focused in both the clinical aspects and studies related to more Brodmann addressed the issue of anthropological questions of the brain. During cytoarchitectonic organization of the brain this period, he founded the Institute for Brain focusing on three parameters: general aspect of Research in Tübingen (Garey, 1995). In 1918 cellular localization in different brain regions, he received an invitation of the eminent distribution of cell bodies along the cortical neuropsychiatrist Emil Kraepelin and moved layers and topographic organization of brain to Munich to work in the newly created gyri (Olry, 2010). He concluded that such Institute for Psychiatric Research, where he histological differentiation indicates a clear begun a close collaboration with Franz Nissl. functional differentiation among cortical regions (Finger, 2001). However, on August 17 of the same year, Brodmann developed an apparently simple His main findings were published between influenza, but that suddenly progressed to a 1903 and 1908 in a series of communications septic infection, followed by an acute in the Journal of Psychology and Neurology. A pneumonia, probably originated from an set of notes was published in 1908, focusing on infection he contracted some years early the cytoarchitectural organization of the during an autopsy (Garey, 1995). human cerebral cortex. Such studies served as Unfortunately, his condition became critical, a basis for his seminal work, published in ultimately resulting in his premature decease 1909: “Vergleichende Lokalisationslehre der on August 22, at 49 years old. Grohirnrinde in ihren - Prinzipien dargestellt auf Grund des Zellenbaues” (Localisation in Acad J Sur 2016 (7) 617-620 619 Freire Marco Before Brodmann’s studies, there was great Article contributions confusion concerning the laminar structure of All authors conceived and organized the the cortex (Pearce, 2005). In addition, such manuscript and gave final approval for its studies contributed to the integration of ideas submission and publication. The authors about phylogeny and ontogenetic influences declare that there is no conflict of interest. with his theories regarding the cortical structure in adult brain as well as functions References during normal and pathological states (Garey, Brodmann, K., 1909 Vergleichende 1995). In his studies, the human brain was Lokalisationslehre der Grosshirnrinde in divided into 52 distinct cytoarchitectonic ihren - Prinzipien dargestellt auf Grund areas, which are commonly referred as des Zellenbaues, Leipzig: J.A. Barth. “Brodmann’s areas”. Translated and Edited by Laurence Garey as Localisation in the Cerebral More than 100 years after their publication, Cortex - The Principles of Comparative Brodmann’s maps of the cerebral cortex are Localisation in the Cerebral Cortex still broadly employed to locate based on Cytoarchtectonics. Springer, neuropsychological functions (Loukas et al., 2006. 2011; Judas et al., 2012). For instance, Cao, M., Wang, J.H., Dai, Z.J., Cao, X.Y., Brodmann’s areas 41 and 42 (temporal lobe) Jiang, L.L., Fan, F.M., et al., are correlated to hearing, whilst areas 17 and 2014.Topological organization of the 18 (occipital lobe) are related to vision and human brain functional connectome areas 1, 2 and 3 (parietal lobe) correspond to across the lifespan. Developmental somatosensation (Kaas, 1996; Kaas and Cognitive Neuroscience 7, 76-93. Collins, 2001; Santiago et al., 2007). The De Araujo, I.E., 2003. Taste representation in advent of more modern experimental methods, the human cortex and the central control such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), of appetite. Revista Brasileira de have provided additional support to the theory Psiquiatria, 25-28. of cortical maps, both anatomically and Finger, S., 2001. Origins of Neuroscience: A functionally, correlating architectural history of explorations into brain differences with distinct physiological function. Oxford University Press. functions in human brain (De Araujo, 2003; Garey, L.J., 1995. Brodmann’s localisation in Schenker-Ahmed and Annese, 2013; Li et al., the cerebral cortex. IBRO News 23, 10- 2014). Together with Magnetic Evoked 11. Potentials (MPE), which reveals the Geyer, S., Weiss, M., Reimann, K., Lohmann, topological organization of functional brain G., Turner, R., 2011. Microstructural networks (Wu et al., 2013; Cao et al., 2014; parcellation of the human cerebral cortex Park et al., 2014), MRI has the potential to - from Brodmann's post-mortem map to provide structural information of the brain due in vivo mapping with high-field to its high sensitivity and resolution magnetic resonance imaging. Frontiers capabilities, allowing a dynamic view in Human Neuroscience 5, 19. doi: microstructural brain maps with neuroimaging 10.3389/fnhum.2011.00019. “in vivo” (see Geyer et al., 2011). Such Judas, M., Cepanec, M., Sedmak, G., 2012. evidences only contribute to corroborate and Brodmann’s map of the human cerebral reinforce the findings of the great German cortex - or Brodmann’s maps? researcher. Translational Neuroscience 3, 67-74. Kaas, J.H., 1996. Theories of visual cortex Acknowledgements organization in primates: areas of the We would like to thank Dr. Nelson Lemos for third level. Progress in Brain Research fruitful scientific discussions. 112, 213-221.