MOLECULAR MECHANISM OF CORTICAL AREA SPECIFICATION

哺乳动物的新皮层是中枢神经系统中最复杂的组织 系统它被细分为功能不同的领域切向 在细胞结构和连接性上不同。不同的神经元 我们最复杂的认知和感知能力的基础 并且因此高度专门用于分析感觉输入或 电机输出的产生。例如，第V层神经元形成了主要的 大脑皮层和脊髓之间的联系在视觉 在皮层，V层神经元投射到上级丘，而在 在感觉运动皮层，第V层神经元将它们的轴突发送到脊髓。 在这两个区域中，都有一部分神经元将轴突发送到 对侧皮层第五层神经元的这种成熟投射模式是 通过选择性轴突节段消除和 抵押品稳定关于这一现象的分子机制， 这个过程为了解决这个问题， 皮质区规范的机制，在这里，我建议识别和 表征在神经元中差异表达的基因， 视觉皮层和感觉运动皮层。长期目标是 阐明皮质区特化的分子机制， 轴突寻路机制

The mammalian neocortex is the most complex tissue of the central nervous system. It is subdivided into functionally distinct areas tangentially differing in cytoarchitecture and connectivity. Neurons within different areas underlie our most sophisticated cognitive and perceptual abilities and are thus highly specialized for the analysis of sensory inputs or the generation of motor output. For example, layer V neurons form the major connections between the neocortex and the spinal cord. In the visual cortex, layer V neurons project to the superior colliculus, while in the sensorimotor cortex, layer V neurons send their axons to the spinal cord. In both regions, there is a subset of neurons send axons to the contralateral cortex. This mature projection pattern of layer V neurons is achieved by a combination of selective axon segment elimination and collateral stabilization. Little is known about the molecular mechanism of this process. To try to address this issue and to understand the molecular mechanism of cortical area specification, here I propose to identify and characterize genes that are differentially expressed in neurons of the visual cortex versus the sensorimotor cortex. The long term goal is to unravel the molecular mechanism of cortical area specification and the mechanism of axon pathfinding.