Sulcibegins

Sulcibegins is a neologism that has appeared in discussions of brain development and computational modeling to denote the initial onset of sulcation, the process by which the cerebral cortex develops grooves known as sulci. The term is not part of standard neuroanatomy or established morphogenesis nomenclature, and its precise interpretation varies among writers.

Etymology-wise, sulcibegins combines sulcus, the Latin word for a furrow, with begins, signaling the start of sulcal formation. This reflects its intended role as an initial or introductory event in models of cortical folding.

Usage and scope vary across sources. In theoretical and computational studies, sulcibegins is often used to label the earliest event in simulated cortical folding, typically the appearance of a shallow groove that may later deepen into more pronounced sulci. In other manuscripts, the term is used more loosely as a placeholder for any initial folding event rather than as a fixed, measurable developmental milestone.

Limitations and status. Because sulcibegins remains informal and not widely standardized, there is no consensus on its timing in real development or on consistent methods to detect or quantify it in imaging data. It is primarily employed in model descriptions or exploratory discussions rather than in empirical reporting.

See also: cortical folding, sulcus, gyrification, brain morphogenesis, neurodevelopment.