<p><strong>Short answer</strong><br>
In complicated matters like neural connections in a layered cortex, it is all about semantics. One should carefully place statements in their context and deduce their meaning. </p>

<p><strong>Background</strong><br>
In Fig. 1 a schematic of the layering of the cortex is shown. The layers can be separated based on their histological and neurophysiological features:</p>

<ul>
<li>Layer I: the molecular layer, contains primarily axons running parallel (horizontal) to the cortical surface. </li>
<li>Layer II, the external granular layer, is composed of a mixture of small granule cells and pyramidal cells. The apical dendrites of the pyramidal cells <strong>extend into layer I</strong> and their axons descend into and through the deeper cortical layers.</li>
<li>Layer III, the external pyramidal layer, contains primarily pyramidal cells. Their <strong>apical dendrites ascend into layer I</strong> and their axons descend into and through the deeper layers.</li>
<li>Layer IV, the internal granular layer, consists almost exclusively of stellate neurons. It can be divided into subdivisions in many neocortical areas. Layer IV is the primary target for ascending sensory information from the thalamus.</li>
<li>Layer V, the internal pyramidal layer, consists predominantly of pyramidal cells. <strong>Apical dendrites may extend upward one or two layers, and the larger pyramidal cells may have dendrites extending into layer I.</strong> </li>
<li>Layer VI, the multiform layer, contains an assortment of neuron types. The <strong>dendrites of pyramidal cells may extend into layer I</strong>. (source: <a href="http://clinicalgate.com/the-cerebral-cortex-2/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Clinical Gate</a>)</li>
</ul>

<p>As the text in bold above shows, the apical dendrites of pyramidal cells can extend many layers. Hence, it is a matter of reading the text carefully to know what they are talking about.</p>

<p>In your example...</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>[A] neuron connects to Layer V of the cortex...</p>
</blockquote>

<p>...it would depend on the context, but in this isolated instance it simply reads that a neuron's axon terminates in layer V. Especially in histological texts a line like this would most likely have identified the axon and the axon terminal and have identified the layer where it terminates.</p>

<p>However, as said above, dendrites of pyramids <em>may</em> extend all the way up to layer I, so if a text would say...</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>[A] neuron synapses onto a layer V neuron...</p>
</blockquote>

<p>it is left undetermined exactly where that connection is made (can be layers I, II, III, IV, or V in the case of pyramidal cells).</p>

<p>What can be of help is the fact that when a text talks about... </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>...a layer V neuron</p>
</blockquote>

<p>...you can safely assume that its cell body is located in layer V, as a cell's location is determined by its cell body. Its dendrites can be in any layer (especially of the larger pyramid cells) and its axon may traverse all layers.   </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ASTKs.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ASTKs.jpg" alt="cortex"></a><br>
<sup>Fig. 1. Layers in the cortex. source: <a href="http://clinicalgate.com/the-cerebral-cortex-2/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Clinical Gate</a></sup></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-23T01:16:23.423Z
Thanks for your time. If I ask the question it's because I read it written like this many times and the context was not helping. So I thought there must be a convention. Trying to guess from the context is not scientific at all.
ceillac
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-23T05:23:06.800Z
@borilla - no worries. It's not guessing,  it's placing words in their context. Words without context are meaningless.
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-22T12:16:27.360Z
2016-09-22T13:52:38.407Z
2016-09-22T13:52:38.407Z
AliceD
<p>Both are correct, technically, neurons a lined and positioned through synaptic connections and so logically each layer should comprise both the soma of neurons as well as the neurites for synaptic connections that can or may extend outside its layer and protrude its network outside. I highly recommend studying and understanding the processes and actions that are underscored in neural activity in the visual cortex.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10884/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10884/</a></p>

<p>PS. brain has 6 layers, try picturing fetal neurons climbing up radial glia stalks that transcend layers during fetal development!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-21T08:47:14.177Z
That was not my question. If you read "this neuron connect to layer 5" then what do you understand? it connect to a synapse in layer 5 or it might connect above layer 5 to a neuron whose soma is in layer 5 ?
ceillac
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-22T12:22:13.863Z
The brain does not have 6 layers. The cortices do. And this layering is arbitrary and very different in, *e.g.*, rhinal and visual cortex.
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-21T07:41:20.010Z
2016-09-21T07:41:20.010Z
Christopher S Park
<p>For example, if we say "a neuron connects to Layer V of the cortex", does it mean it synapses inside layer V, or does it imply that the soma of the neuron it synapses to is in Layer V (and it could synapse inside Layer II for example)?</p>

<theoretical-neuroscience><neural-network><neuroanatomy>
What does it mean when we say that "a neuron connects to a certain cortical layer"?
ceillac
# What does it mean when we say that "a neuron connects to a certain cortical layer"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-09-21)

For example, if we say "a neuron connects to Layer V of the cortex", does it mean it synapses inside layer V, or does it imply that the soma of the neuron it synapses to is in Layer V (and it could synapse inside Layer II for example)?

**Tags:** theoretical-neuroscience, neural-network, neuroanatomy


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-09-22. Score: 5

**Short answer**  
In complicated matters like neural connections in a layered cortex, it is all about semantics. One should carefully place statements in their context and deduce their meaning.

**Background**  
In Fig. 1 a schematic of the layering of the cortex is shown. The layers can be separated based on their histological and neurophysiological features:

* Layer I: the molecular layer, contains primarily axons running parallel (horizontal) to the cortical surface.
* Layer II, the external granular layer, is composed of a mixture of small granule cells and pyramidal cells. The apical dendrites of the pyramidal cells **extend into layer I** and their axons descend into and through the deeper cortical layers.
* Layer III, the external pyramidal layer, contains primarily pyramidal cells. Their **apical dendrites ascend into layer I** and their axons descend into and through the deeper layers.
* Layer IV, the internal granular layer, consists almost exclusively of stellate neurons. It can be divided into subdivisions in many neocortical areas. Layer IV is the primary target for ascending sensory information from the thalamus.
* Layer V, the internal pyramidal layer, consists predominantly of pyramidal cells. **Apical dendrites may extend upward one or two layers, and the larger pyramidal cells may have dendrites extending into layer I.**
* Layer VI, the multiform layer, contains an assortment of neuron types. The **dendrites of pyramidal cells may extend into layer I**. (source: [Clinical Gate](http://clinicalgate.com/the-cerebral-cortex-2/))

As the text in bold above shows, the apical dendrites of pyramidal cells can extend many layers. Hence, it is a matter of reading the text carefully to know what they are talking about.

In your example...

> [A] neuron connects to Layer V of the cortex...

...it would depend on the context, but in this isolated instance it simply reads that a neuron's axon terminates in layer V. Especially in histological texts a line like this would most likely have identified the axon and the axon terminal and have identified the layer where it terminates.

However, as said above, dendrites of pyramids *may* extend all the way up to layer I, so if a text would say...

> [A] neuron synapses onto a layer V neuron...

it is left undetermined exactly where that connection is made (can be layers I, II, III, IV, or V in the case of pyramidal cells).

What can be of help is the fact that when a text talks about...

> ...a layer V neuron

...you can safely assume that its cell body is located in layer V, as a cell's location is determined by its cell body. Its dendrites can be in any layer (especially of the larger pyramid cells) and its axon may traverse all layers.

[![cortex](https://i.sstatic.net/ASTKs.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/ASTKs.jpg)  
Fig. 1. Layers in the cortex. source: [Clinical Gate](http://clinicalgate.com/the-cerebral-cortex-2/)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for your time. If I ask the question it's because I read it written like this many times and the context was not helping. So I thought there must be a convention. Trying to guess from the context is not scientific at all.  
> **username_1**: @borilla - no worries. It's not guessing,  it's placing words in their context. Words without context are meaningless.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-09-21. Score: -2

Both are correct, technically, neurons a lined and positioned through synaptic connections and so logically each layer should comprise both the soma of neurons as well as the neurites for synaptic connections that can or may extend outside its layer and protrude its network outside. I highly recommend studying and understanding the processes and actions that are underscored in neural activity in the visual cortex.

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10884/>

PS. brain has 6 layers, try picturing fetal neurons climbing up radial glia stalks that transcend layers during fetal development!

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: That was not my question. If you read "this neuron connect to layer 5" then what do you understand? it connect to a synapse in layer 5 or it might connect above layer 5 to a neuron whose soma is in layer 5 ?  
> **username_1**: The brain does not have 6 layers. The cortices do. And this layering is arbitrary and very different in, *e.g.*, rhinal and visual cortex.  

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