Telencephalon patterning

The neural networks of the adult cerebral hemispheres, which are one of the most complex structures known to us, underlie the vast range of human behaviors. Despite this complexity, the cerebral hemispheres start off during embryonic development as a simple sheet of neuroepithelial cells. This neuroepithelium constitutes the nascent telencephalon, located toward the anterior end of the neural plate. As development proceeds, the telencephalic neuroepithelium becomes patterned into distinct progenitor regions, which later give rise to specific neuronal subtypes, a process that is essential for the proper wiring of the cerebrum. Defects in these early patterning processes, even subtle ones, can result in serious intellectual and behavioral deficits.