Epigenetic and metabolic regulation of developmental timing in neocortex evolution

The timing and duration of developmental programs in the neocortex determine final neuron number and neocortex size. 

Epigenetic mechanisms regulate the timing of all developmental transitions in the developing neocortex, from neural stem cell expansion to neurogenesis and neuronal maturation, and potentially contribute to the protracted development of the human cortex.

Epigenetic reactions are tightly connected to different metabolic pathways that themselves have been implicated in controlling neocortical development and evolution.

Deregulation of epigenetic and metabolic pathways underlies several neurodevelopmental disorders, highlighting the importance of these pathways for proper brain function.

Metabolic-epigenetic interplay emerges as a novel direction for studying the timing of cortical development, and brain organoids offer exciting new experimental approaches.

https://www.cell.com/trends/neurosciences/fulltext/S0166-2236(25)00056-6

https://sciencemission.com/Epig-and-met-reg-of-dev-timing-in-neocortex