Postnatal Development of the Marmoset Prefrontal Cortex

The prefrontal cortex is a primate specific structure which contributes to complex cognitive functions such as planning and decision making. Unfortunately, abnormal development of this region is implicated in a high range of cognitive neurodevelopment disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. However, our insights into its development and maturation remain highly elusive. This thesis investigated the postnatal development of the prefrontal cortex in a non-human primate model and elucidated the role of a primate specific thalamic structure, medial pulvinar, in this trajectory.