Grant: Operating Grant

It is becoming clear that numerous common and devastating neurological disorders, like Autism Spectrum Disorders, Schizophrenia and Epilepsy can be caused by abnormal brain development. Here, we propose to employ advanced imaging techniques to directly image brain structural growth during critical periods sensitive to disruption, in order to understand normal and pathological brain circuit development. These imaging techniques provide high-resolution 3D images of brain neurons and movies of neuron growth as brain circuits are formed. In addition, using fluorescent dyes sensitive to neuronal firing, we propose to directly image network activity in the awake brain. By controlling activity and gene expression of individual brain neurons, we are able to test the roles of external and intrinsic factors in regulating structural and functional growth. Results will identify novel proteins involved in developmental brain plasticity that may offer new targets for developing therapeutics or preventative treatments to counter developmental neurological disorders.