Interconnectivity between neocortical areas is critical for sensory integration and sensorimotor transformations. These functions are mediated by heterogeneous interareal cortical projection neurons (ICPN), which send axon branches across cortical areas as well as to subcortical targets. Although ICPN are anatomically diverse, they are molecularly homogeneous and how the diversity of their anatomical and functional features emerge during development remains largely unknown. Here, I will present recent data from the laboratory revealing that within a single cortical area, different subtypes of ICPN have distinct postnatal molecular differentiation paces, which are then reflected in distinct circuit connectivities and functions. Hence, dynamic differences in expression levels of largely generic set of genes, rather than fundamental differences in the identity of developmental genetic programs, may thus account for emergence of intra-type diversity in cortical neurons.

Those wishing to meet the speaker should contact Sumin Jang in the Wichterle lab

The Columbia Neuroscience Seminar series is a collaborative effort of Columbia's Zuckerman Institute, the Department of Neuroscience, the Doctoral Program in Neurobiology and Behavior and the Columbia Translational Neuroscience Initiative, and with support from the Kavli Institute for Brain Science.