Title: Speed limits in mammalian brains: scaling constraints from 
biophysics

Abstract: The mammalian neocortex scales according to orderly power laws.  
This allometric scaling suggests that variation in neocortical form,
previously known only as empirical phenomena, reflects shared design
principles.  We find that several scaling laws can be explained by a
requirement to keep fast cross-brain conduction times at 1-2 milliseconds,
independent of brain size.  Because faster conduction requires thicker
axons, the fastest axons occupy disproportionately more space in big
brains. The consequent increases in volume can account quantitatively for
increases in the ratio of white matter to gray matter volume.  Thus,
macroscopic neocortical scaling is explainable in terms of biophysical
constraints.

The talk as presented at Banbury Center will have two parts.  The first 
part concerns analysis of gross anatomy. see

http://synapse.princeton.edu/lab/blog/archives/clark_wang01_nature.pdf

http://synapse.princeton.edu/lab/blog/archives/burish_wang03_BBE_preprint.pdf

The second part concerns analysis of cellular components.  see

http://synapse.princeton.edu/lab/blog/archives/harrison_wang02_jneurocytol.pdf

http://synapse.princeton.edu/lab/blog/archives/Wang-NICW03-axons.pdf

A preprint corresponding with the last item (which is a poster) will come 
soon.