Leonard Maler will focus on a specialized caudal portion of the cerebellum of teleost fish whose structure and physiology has been especially well studies to the point that we now have detailed computational analyses of its function. Idoia Quintana-Urzainqui will talk about what sharks can tell us about the evolution of the telencephalon, mainly focusing on the evolutionary expansion of the pallium and how shark embryos can hold key information to interpret the origin of the developmental processes that triggered this phenomenon.

The inhibitory actions of the heterogeneous collection of GABAergic interneurons tremendously influence cortical information processing, which is reflected by diseases like autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia that involve defects in cortical inhibition. Apart from the regulation of physiological processes like synaptic transmission, proper interneuron function also relies on their correct development. Hence, decrypting regulatory networks that direct proper cortical interneuron development as well as adult functionality is of great interest, as this helps to identify critical events implicated in the etiology of the aforementioned diseases. Thereby, extrinsic factors modulate these processes and act on cell- and stage-specific transcriptional programs. Herein, epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation, like DNA methylation executed by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, call increasing attention in integrating “environmental information” in our genome and sculpting physiological processes in the brain relevant for human mental health. Several studies associate altered expression levels and function of the DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in subsets of embryonic and adult cortical interneurons in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Although accumulating evidence supports the relevance of epigenetic signatures for instructing cell type-specific development, only very little is known about their functional implications in discrete developmental processes and in subtype-specific maturation of cortical interneurons. Similarly, little is known about the role of DNMT1 in regulating adult interneurons functionality. This talk will provide an overview about newly identified and roles DNMT1 has in orchestrating cortical interneuron development and adult function. Further, this talk will report about the implications of lncRNAs in mediating site-specific DNA methylation in response to discrete external stimuli.

The emergence of large-scale brain networks, and their continual refinement, represent crucial developmental processes that can drive individual differences in cognition and which are associated with multiple neurodevelopmental conditions. But how does this organization arise, and what mechanisms govern the diversity of these developmental processes? There are many existing descriptive theories, but to date none are computationally formalized. We provide a mathematical framework that specifies the growth of a brain network over developmental time. Within this framework macroscopic brain organization, complete with spatial embedding of its organization, is an emergent property of a generative wiring equation that optimizes its connectivity by renegotiating its biological costs and topological values continuously over development. The rules that govern these iterative wiring properties are controlled by a set of tightly framed parameters, with subtle differences in these parameters steering network growth towards different neurodiverse outcomes. Regional expression of genes associated with the developmental simulations converge on biological processes and cellular components predominantly involved in synaptic signaling, neuronal projection, catabolic intracellular processes and protein transport. Together, this provides a unifying computational framework for conceptualizing the mechanisms and diversity of childhood brain development, capable of integrating different levels of analysis – from genes to cognition. (Pre-print: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.08.13.249391v1)

Speakers will highlight research on the developmental processes underlying cognitive control and the effects of environmental risk factors on neural pathways in human cognitive development. Gaia Scerif, from University of Oxford, will be giving a talk on Using developmental cognitive neuroscience tools to investigate mechanisms of atypical cognitive control, followed by Kirsten Donald, from University of Cape Town, who will give a talk titled Neuroimaging the very young high risk brain: lessons from a south African birth cohort.