Lecture in English.
Abstract
Language is a defining human trait, yet the developmental specializations of the language-associated cortex remain poorly understood. The neuroanatomical infrastructure underlying language comprises a network of cortical and subcortical regions, among which Broca’s area plays a central role. We define the molecular, cellular, and cytoarchitectonic features that distinguish Broca’s area. We identify area- and stage-specific cell populations, along with an early cadherin-based molecular code that may guide circuit assembly, and we find that somatostatin interneurons are selectively vulnerable to neurodevelopmental disorders. Finally, evolutionary analyses highlight genomic specializations underlying linguistic abilities that have accumulated over millions of years following the divergence of the human and chimpanzee lineages.
