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In previous work, Striegel and Hurdal have developed a mathematical model for cortical folding pattern formation during development (Striegel). A Turing reaction-diffusion system and a prolate spheroid domain were used to model the shape of the ventricle during development. They assumed a chemical hypothesis for cortical folding development. The chemical hypothesis suggests that a radial glial cell duplicates into an intermediate progenitor (IP) cell and a new radial glial cell only if it is activated. In turn, the IP cell duplicates into one or two neuroblasts. These cells form the cortical layer. The amplifications due to activated radial glial cells create gyral walls, and the inhibited cells create sulcal valleys. In this research, we modify Striegel and Hurdal's model to use an oblate spheroid domain. We develop mathematical equations using this new domain and investigate the role of various parameters through numerical stimulations. We suggest how these results can be applied to diseases, such as ventriculomegaly and holoprosencephaly, which alter the shape and size of the brain.
