Layer I, the molecular layer, contains few scattered neurons and consists mainly of extensions of

apical dendritic tufts of pyramidal neurons and horizontally oriented axons, as well as glial cells.
Some Cajal-Retzius and spiny stellate cells can be found here. Inputs to the apical tufts are
thought to be crucial for the feedback interactions in the cerebral cortex involved in
associative learning and attention. While it was once thought that the input to layer I came from
the cortex itself, it is now realized that layer I across the cerebral cortex mantle receives
substantial input from matrix or M-type thalamus cells (in contrast to core or C-type that go
to layer IV).
Layer II, the external granular layer, contains small pyramidal neurons and numerous stellate
neurons.
Layer III, the external pyramidal layer, contains predominantly small and medium-size
pyramidal neurons, as well as non-pyramidal neurons with vertically oriented intracortical axons;
layers I through III are the main target of interhemispheric corticocortical afferents, and layer III
is the principal source of corticocortical efferents.
Layer IV, the internal granular layer, contains different types of stellate and pyramidal neurons,
and is the main target of thalamocortical afferents from thalamus type C neurons as well as intrahemispheric corticocortical afferents.
Layer V, the internal pyramidal layer, contains large pyramidal neurons which give rise to axons
leaving the cortex and running down to subcortical structures (such as the basal ganglia). In the
primary motor cortex of the frontal lobe, layer V contains Betz cells, whose axons travel through
the internal capsule, the brain stem and the spinal cord forming the corticospinal tract, which is
the main pathway for voluntary motor control.
Layer VI, the polymorphic or multiform layer, contains few large pyramidal neurons and many
small spindle-like pyramidal and multiform neurons; layer VI sends efferent fibers to the
thalamus, establishing a very precise reciprocal interconnection between the cortex and the
thalamus. This is, layer VI neurons from one cortical column connect with thalamus neurons that
provide input to the same cortical column. These connections are both excitatory and inhibitory.
Neurons send excitatory fibers to neurons in the thalamus and also send collaterals to the
thalamic reticular nucleus that inhibit these same thalamus neurons or ones adjacent to them.
One theory is that because the inhibitory output is reduced by cholinergic input to the cerebral
cortex, this provides the brainstem with adjustable "gain control for the relay of lemniscal
inputs".