Adolf Hopf's 1954 myeloarchitectonic parcellation of the human temporal lobe: a review and assessment

Abstract

In this review, Adolph Hopf's [21] myeloarchitectonic parcellation of the left hemisphere human temporal lobe is examined in light of current functional (neuroimaging) data, and by comparison with classical and recently published partial parcellations of the macaque temporal lobe. In order to effect these comparisons, the components of Hopf's parcellation were mapped to the human cortical PALS atlas using the Caret software, as were components of more recent partial temporal lobe parcellations. Correspondences between functionally defined structures, including the occipital and fusiform face areas and the parahippocampal place area, with components of the Hopf parcellation were determined by plotting the locations of activation foci published in neuroimaging studies of face and scene recognition studies on the PALS atlas, and comparing the location and extent of foci clusters with the topography of Hopf's myeloarchitectonic areas. In addition, potential homologies between macaque temporal lobe structures and Hopf's areas were established by mapping the component areas of macaque temporal cortex to the Caret software F99 macaque atlas, and comparing the topography of this mapping with the corresponding topography of the Hopf parcellation in the PALS atlas mapping. Relative expansion and contraction of temporal lobe structures over phylogeny are discussed in light of these potential homologies.