在大脑白质中的主要神经元类型为板下层神经元。这种短暂的神经元类型在早产儿脑白质损伤期出现。它对皮层和丘脑的发育有重要意义。板下层神经元表达兴奋性氨基酸受体（NMDA，和Ca++通透性的（GLUR2缺乏的）AMPA受体），它在缺氧缺血模型中显得敏感。因为缺氧缺血与兴奋毒性是引起早产儿脑白质损伤的主要病理机制，同时早产儿脑白质损伤有大脑皮层和丘脑容量的减少，因此应该也考虑到板下层神经元的损伤。

Subplate neurons are among the first generated neurons in the mammalian cerebral cortex ^[1]. These neurons disappear during postnatal development and are important in establishing the correct wiring ^[2][3] and functional maturation ^[4] of the cerebral cortex. Subplate neurons appear to be selectively sensitive to injury (such as hypoxia) which in humans are associated with motor and cognitive defects ^[5].

Subplate neurons are the first cortical neurons to receive synaptic inputs from thalamic axons, establishing a temporary link between thalamic axons and their final target in layer 4. ^[6][7][8]. Later, thalamic axons invade layer 4 where they innervate layer 4 neurons. In the visual system thalamic axons to layer 4 form ocular dominance columns and this segregation of thalamic axons is impaired if subplate neurons are missing ^[9][10].