<p><a href="http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pcbi.0010078">Wen &amp; Chklovskii (2005)</a> looked at exactly this question through a simulation study. They assumed that the segregation of white and gray matter was the the result of evolutionary pressure to maximize some aspect of connectivity. They tested the idea that simultaneously maximizing interconnectivity (neurons should be able to connect to all other neurons without too many intermediate steps) and minimizing conduction delay (time required for a signal to travel from one neuron to another) would result in the segregation of gray and white matter. </p>

<p>Through computational simulation, they were able to determine that these simultaneous pressure were sufficient to drive the white/gray matter divide. Part of what they were able to show is that, under some simple geometric assumptions, a mixed (homogeneous) design that had white matter interspersed with gray matter led to much higher conduction delays than a segregated design. The basic reason is that when white matter is mixed in with the gray matter, the short-range connections between nearby neurons in gray matter are longer to account for the interference of the white matter tracts.</p>

<p>Wen, Q., and Chklovskii, D.B. (2005). Segregation of the brain into gray and white matter: A design minimizing conduction delays. <em>PLoS Comput Biol</em>, <em>1</em>(7): e78. <a href="http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pcbi.0010078">doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.0010078</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-26T00:35:52.630Z
2014-06-26T00:35:52.630Z
Josh
<p>I am curious to know as to why long range, myelinated axons prefer to convene and form white matter tracts, rather than simply reach its target in an arbitrary fashion. Is there some kind of evolutionary advantage to this phenomena? Or is this an ongoing research question? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-18T05:06:20.397Z
Interesting question!  Welcome to cogsci.SE.
Nick Stauner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-18T05:13:30.607Z
Very interesting indeed! Let me speculate: a lot of neighbouring neurons from one area will need to connect to neighbouring neurons in the next area in a processing stream. If they all follow the shortest path, they will end up in a bundle.
Ana
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-19T07:30:34.317Z
Speculating that it is likely that one axon forms as an initial "seed" between source and target areas during development. Subsequently forming axons between these areas may use the existing axons as a guide.
Bob Brandt
<neuroscience><neural-network>
Why do long range axons in mammals travel in white matter tracts?
ddriver1
# Why do long range axons in mammals travel in white matter tracts?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-02-17)

I am curious to know as to why long range, myelinated axons prefer to convene and form white matter tracts, rather than simply reach its target in an arbitrary fashion. Is there some kind of evolutionary advantage to this phenomena? Or is this an ongoing research question?

**Tags:** neuroscience, neural-network

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Interesting question!  Welcome to cogsci.SE.  
> **username_2**: Very interesting indeed! Let me speculate: a lot of neighbouring neurons from one area will need to connect to neighbouring neurons in the next area in a processing stream. If they all follow the shortest path, they will end up in a bundle.  
> **username_3**: Speculating that it is likely that one axon forms as an initial "seed" between source and target areas during development. Subsequently forming axons between these areas may use the existing axons as a guide.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-06-26. Score: 6

[Wen & Chklovskii (2005)](http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pcbi.0010078) looked at exactly this question through a simulation study. They assumed that the segregation of white and gray matter was the the result of evolutionary pressure to maximize some aspect of connectivity. They tested the idea that simultaneously maximizing interconnectivity (neurons should be able to connect to all other neurons without too many intermediate steps) and minimizing conduction delay (time required for a signal to travel from one neuron to another) would result in the segregation of gray and white matter.

Through computational simulation, they were able to determine that these simultaneous pressure were sufficient to drive the white/gray matter divide. Part of what they were able to show is that, under some simple geometric assumptions, a mixed (homogeneous) design that had white matter interspersed with gray matter led to much higher conduction delays than a segregated design. The basic reason is that when white matter is mixed in with the gray matter, the short-range connections between nearby neurons in gray matter are longer to account for the interference of the white matter tracts.

Wen, Q., and Chklovskii, D.B. (2005). Segregation of the brain into gray and white matter: A design minimizing conduction delays. *PLoS Comput Biol*, *1*(7): e78. [doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.0010078](http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pcbi.0010078)


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