The Mechanism Underlying the Formation of Activity-Dependent Thalamocortical Projection

众所周知，神经活动在神经回路的形成中起着重要作用。然而，其机制在很大程度上是未知的。我们研究了神经活动在轴突分支形成中的作用，重点研究了哺乳动物大脑的丘脑皮质投射。结果表明，生长中的丘脑轴突（突触前）及其靶皮质神经元（突触后）的活动均促进轴突分支。证据还表明了潜在的分子机制。

Neural activity is well known to play an important role in neural circuit formation. However, the mechanism is largely unknown. We studied the role of neural activity in axonal branch formation, focusing on the thalamocortical projection in the mammalian brain. The result shows that both activities of growing thalamic axons (presynaptic) and their target cortical neurons (postsynaptic) promote axon branching. Evidence also suggests the underlying molecular mechanisms.