News Health and Medicine Watching the developing brain, scientists glean clues on neurological disorder
| Watching the developing brain, scientists glean clues on neurological disorder |
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| Tuesday, November 13, 2012 | |
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As the brain develops, each neuron must find its way to precisely the right spot to weave the intricate network of links the brain needs to function. Like the wiring in a computer, a few misplaced connections can throw off functioning for an entire segment of the brain. A new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine reveals how some nerve cells, called interneurons, navigate during the development of the cerebral cortex. Mutations in a key gene behind this navigation system underlie a rare neurological disorder called Joubert syndrome; a condition linked with autism spectrum disorders and brain structure malformations. For full release |