Grant: Operating Grant

The flow of information in the nervous system is dependent on the formation of selective connections between nerve cells to form neural maps that provide us with an accurate representation of our environment and influence our behaviors. Although the underlying causes of complex mental disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia, remain to be fully understood, there is increasing evidence that defects in the formation of the brain circuitry could contribute to these disorders. Mutations in the gene encoding the cell adhesion molecule Kirrel-3 were recently identified in patients with mental disability, suggesting that this molecule may play an important role during development of the brain circuitry. Our proposal is aimed at gaining a better understanding of how members of the Kirrel family of molecules can control the formation of specific connections in the brain during development.