Abstract
The left temporal lobe is an integral part of the language system and its cortical structure and function associate with general intelligence. However, whether cortical laminar architecture and cellular properties of this brain area relate to verbal intelligence is unknown. Here, we addressed this using histological analysis and cellular recordings of neurosurgically resected temporal cortex in combination with presurgical IQ scores. We find that subjects with higher general and verbal IQ scores have thicker left (but not right) temporal cortex (Brodmann area 21, BA21). The increased thickness is due to the selective increase in layers 2 and 3 thickness, accompanied by lower neuron densities, and larger dendrites and cell body size of pyramidal neurons in these layers. Furthermore, these neurons sustain faster action potential kinetics, which improves information processing. Our results indicate that verbal mental ability associates with selective adaptations of supragranular layers and their cellular micro-architecture and function in left, but not right temporal cortex.
Original language | English |
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Article number | bhab330 |
Pages (from-to) | 2343–2357 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 11 |
Early online date | 21 Sept 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO; VENI grant, 016.Veni.171.017 to N.A.G.)
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
Funding
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO; VENI grant, 016.Veni.171.017 to N.A.G.)
Funders | Funder number |
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National Institute of Mental Health | U01MH114812 |
Keywords
- action potential
- dendrites
- human neurons
- intelligence
- language