Alain Chédotal1 and Linda J. Richards2
-Author Affiliations
1INSERM UMRS_968, Institut de la Vision, Department of Development, 17 rue Moreau, 75012 Paris, France; UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMRS_968, F-75012 Paris, France
2The University of Queensland, Queensland Brain Institute and School of Biomedical Sciences, Buidling 79, St Lucia Campus, St Luica, Queensland, Australia, 4072
Correspondence:richards@uq.edu.au
Abstract
The mammalian brain is the most complex organ in the body. It controls all aspects of our bodily functions and interprets the world around us through our senses. It defines us as human beings through our memories and our ability to plan for the future. Crucial to all these functions is how the brain is wired in order to perform these tasks. The basic map of brain wiring occurs during embryonic and postnatal development through a series of precisely orchestrated developmental events regulated by specific molecular mechanisms. Below we review the most important features of mammalian brain wiring derived from work in both mammals and in nonmammalian species. These mechanisms are highly conserved throughout evolution, simply becoming more complex in the mammalian brain. This fascinating area of biology is uncovering the essence of what makes the mammalian brain able to perform the everyday tasks we take for granted, as well as those which give us the ability for extraordinary achievement.
Copyright © 2010 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; all rights reserved
+++++
