Maturation

The cerebral cortex is the most evolved structure of the brain and the site for higher cognitive functions. It consists of 6 layers, each composed of specific types of neurons. Interconnectivity between cortical areas is critical for sensory integration and sensorimotor transformation. Inter-areal cortical projection neurons are located in all cortical layers and form a heterogeneous population, which send their axon across cortical areas, both within and across hemispheres. How this diversity emerges during development remains largely unknown. Here, we address this question by linking the con

…adequate migration, proliferation and maturation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). Furthermore, we have found that voltage-gated Ca++ channels that function in synapti

…cues, which together drive their maturation. Here, focusing on the neocortex, I will discuss recent findings from our laboratory in which we untangle and manipulate the programs at play in progenitors and their daughter neurons to better understand the emergence of cellular diversity in the developing