Cortical minicolumn

A cortical minicolumn (also called cortical microcolumn^[1]) is a vertical column through the cortical layers of the brain. Neurons within the microcolumn "receive common inputs, have common outputs, are interconnected, and may well constitute a fundamental computational unit of the cerebral cortex".^[2][3] Minicolumns comprise perhaps 80–120 neurons, except in the primate primary visual cortex (V1), where there are typically more than twice the number. There are about 2×10⁸ minicolumns in humans.^[4] From calculations, the diameter of a minicolumn is about 28–40 μm.^[2] Minicolumns grow from progenitor cells within the embryo and contain neurons within multiple layers (2–6) of the cortex.^[5]

Many sources support the existence of minicolumns, especially Mountcastle,^[2] with strong evidence reviewed by Buxhoeveden and Casanova^[6] who conclude "... the minicolumn must be considered a strong model for cortical organization" and "[the minicolumn is] the most basic and consistent template by which the neocortex organizes its neurones, pathways, and intrinsic circuits".

Cells in 50 μm minicolumn all have the same receptive field; adjacent minicolumns may have different fields.^[7]