The Mystery of the Claustrum, the Front Wall of the Brain: From Early Anatomic Discovery to Modern Insights

dc.contributor.authorEvleksiz, D
dc.contributor.authorGüngör, A
dc.contributor.authorKarimzada, G
dc.contributor.authorYaman, B
dc.contributor.authorKara, AA
dc.contributor.authorİzci, Y
dc.contributor.authorWeninger, WJ
dc.contributor.authorTüre, U
dc.date.accessioned2026-03-31T13:21:19Z
dc.date.available2026-03-31T13:21:19Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractOBJECTIVE: The claustrum, a thin layer of gray matter between the insular cortex and putamen, has been a subject of anatomical and functional curiosity for centuries. Although early anatomical descriptions provide some insights, modern neuroimaging and neurosurgical studies have reignited interest in its structure and function. This study examines the historical evolution of the claustrum's terminology and clinical significance. METHODS: A comprehensive review was conducted, analyzing neuroanatomical texts from the 15th to 20th centuries and contemporary academic publications on the claustrum. The investigation focused on anatomical descriptions, variations in nomenclature, and the claustrum's neurosurgical significance. RESULTS: The first known depiction of the claustrum appeared in the work of Vicq d'Azyr (1786), followed by formal naming as the vormauer (claustrum) by Burdach (1822). Subsequent terminology included N. taeniaeformis (Arnold, 1838) and avant-mur (Dejerine, 1895). Neurodevelopmental research by Puelles (2017, 2022) provided genetic evidence distinguishing it from adjacent structures. Functionally, Crick and Koch (2005) proposed its role in consciousness as a sensory integrator. Still, Yasxargil's neurosurgical observations indicate that tumor invasion or iatrogenic damage of the claustrum in cases of insular glioma does not result in impaired consciousness, prompting a reassessment of its functional role. CONCLUSIONS: This review synthesizes historical and contemporary perspectives to highlight the claustrum's relevance in neuroscience and neurosurgery. Although its exact function remains debated, ongoing research continues to shed light on its role in brain connectivity and integration. Understanding the claustrum's structure and function may lead to novel insights into sensory processing, cognition, and potential neurosurgical applications.
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.wneu.2025.124045
dc.identifier.issn1878-8750
dc.identifier.issn1878-8769
dc.identifier.pmid40345381
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2025.124045
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11491/9688
dc.identifier.volume198
dc.identifier.wosWOS:001505067400003
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
dc.relation.ispartofWORLD NEUROSURG
dc.subjectClaustrum
dc.subjectGray matter
dc.subjectHistory
dc.subjectInsula
dc.subjectNeuroanatomy
dc.subjectTerminology
dc.titleThe Mystery of the Claustrum, the Front Wall of the Brain: From Early Anatomic Discovery to Modern Insights
dc.typeArticle

Dosyalar