The neocortex, the largest and most iconic portion of the brain, possesses different areas that are responsible for processing different types of information.  These different functional regions (areas) were originally categorized purely on neuroanatomy, the most famous of these classification schemes was developed by the German neurologist Emile Brodmann over a century ago.  Since that time it has been determined that there are several critical features that define functional areas.  These features are: architecture (cell location, size, and density); topography (possessing sharp borders between areas); connectivity (the other areas it is connected with); unique gene expression profiles; and specialized functions (behavior or neuronal function).

The most robust examples of these areas are the sensory areas.  These areas are arranged in a similar pattern such that individual sensory areas are always in the same place across individuals.  Looking to the visual system as an example, the visual areas are always located posterio-medially (i.e. at the back and center of the neocortex).

Our lab seeks to understand the genetic mechanisms responsible for determining and regulating the location and size of functional areas.  Said another way, we seek to understand how these areas are partitioned from a finite amount of neocortex (i.e. there’s only so much space in the brain to go around).

Understanding these genetic mechanisms that regulate functional area partitioning will not only provide greater insight to the development of the brain, but may also help elucidate some potential genetic mechanisms that contribute to various brain disorders that arise early in life.

The neocortex is unique to mammals, and to address the questions that interest us we use mice as our model species.  Mice provide not only a mammalian species to study area partitioning but are also genetically tractable.  Specifically, there are an abundance of genetic tools that have already been generated which facilitate our ability to probe these questions.  This also provides an opportunity for students interested in caring for/utilizing a mammalian species hands on experience.