Progress in Corticogenesis

Abstract

This is the third in a series of special issues of ‘‘Cerebral Cortex’’ devoted to reporting advances in the field of cortical development. The first, edited by John Rubenstein and Pasko Rakic that appeared in 1999, was predominantly about genes and cortical development. The second, the Delphi issue, published in 2003 was edited by us and focused on the relationship between cortical development and circuit formation, underscoring advances in the understanding of the origin of excitatory and inhibitory neurons, arealization of the forebrain, and regulation of cortical excitability. The current issue once again highlights new advances in the field of cortical development, including findings related to arealization and asymmetry, cortical organization and neuronal migration, neuronal specification, and stem cell biology. The papers represent topics that were discussed at a meeting held in Santorini, Greece, a place of timeless beauty that also stands as a reminder of how suddenly and unexpectedly a familiar landscape can change. The Cortical Development meetings, and the special Cerebral Cortex issues they produce, stand as signposts that help chart the changing landscape of cortical development.