A cytoarchitectonic map is
a. a representation of the ways that cortical areas are connected to each other
b. a map of regional differences in the laminar organization of cortex
c. a map of the relation between the cortex and the thalamus
d. a 19th century construct that was discarded long ago
e. none of the above
Since this is not my area of expertise, I searched Google under the key words "cytoarchitectonic map" to get these possible sources:
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=cytoarchitectonic+map&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
In the future, you can find the information you desire more quickly, if you use appropriate key words to do your own search. Also see http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/.
http://www.hackcollege.com/blog/2011/11/23/infographic-get-more-out-of-google.html
The correct answer is b. a map of regional differences in the laminar organization of cortex.
To arrive at this answer, it helps to understand the term "cytoarchitecture." Cytoarchitecture refers to the organization and arrangement of cells in a particular tissue or organ. In the context of neuroscience, cytoarchitecture specifically refers to the cellular organization of the cerebral cortex, which is the outer layer of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functions.
A cytoarchitectonic map, therefore, is a representation or map of the regional differences in the laminar organization of the cortex. Laminar organization refers to the arrangement of distinct layers of cells within the cortex.
Option a, which suggests that a cytoarchitectonic map represents the ways that cortical areas are connected to each other, is incorrect. The map of cortical connectivity is known as a "connectome" rather than a cytoarchitectonic map.
Option c, which suggests that a cytoarchitectonic map represents the relation between the cortex and the thalamus, is also incorrect. The thalamus is a separate structure in the brain that is involved in the relay of sensory and motor information, but a cytoarchitectonic map does not specifically provide information about this relation.
Option d, which suggests that a cytoarchitectonic map is a 19th-century construct that has been discarded long ago, is also incorrect. Cytoarchitectonic maps are still used in contemporary neuroscience research to understand the structural organization of the cerebral cortex.
Therefore, the correct answer is b. a map of regional differences in the laminar organization of cortex.