Layer-specific changes in sensory cortex across the lifespan in mice and humans
The segregation of processes into cortical layers is a convergent feature in animal evolution. However, how changes in the cortical layer architecture interact with sensory system function and dysfunction remains unclear. Here we conducted functional and structural layer-specific in vivo 7T magnetic resonance imaging of the primary somatosensory cortex in two cohorts of healthy younger and older adults. Input layer IV is enlarged and more myelinated in older adults and is associated with extended sensory input signals. Age-related cortical thinning is driven by deep layers and accompanied by increased myelination, but there is no clear evidence for reduced inhibition. Calcium imaging and histology in younger and older mice revealed increased sensory-evoked neuronal activity accompanied by increased parvalbumin expression as a potential inhibitory balance, with dynamic changes in layer-specific myelination across age groups. Using multimodal imaging, we demonstrate that middle and deep layers show specific sensitivity to aging across species.
Authors
- Alicia Northall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5435-7916)
- Angela Serian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1468-6448)
- D. Samuel Schwarzkopf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3686-1622)
- Oliver Speck (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6019-5597)
- Julia U. Henschke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2435-8627)
- Juliane Doehler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0566-7109)
- Esther Kuehn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3169-1951)
- Janelle M.P. Pakan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9384-8067)
- Eike Budinger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2420-8159)
- Peng Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0713-1113)
- Laura C. Loaiza-Carvajal
Institutions
- University of Auckland (NZ)
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DE)
- University Hospital Heidelberg (DE)
- Central Institute of Mental Health (DE)
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (DE)
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (DE)
- University College London (GB)
- Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg (DE)
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Neuroscience
- Published
- 2025-08-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-02013-1
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 7.16
Funders
- European Commission
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg