Possible Link to Developmental Brain Disorders Found

Research recently published in the Journal of Neuroscience identified a mechanism in brain development that, when disrupted, may play a role in cerebral cortex circuit disorders, including autism, schizophrenia, and childhood epilepsy. The research lab identified the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway to be a critical regulator of the directed movement of cortical interneurons in a mouse’s developing brain, acting as a type of traffic cop. When JNK signaling is hampered, migratory interneurons lose their ability to successfully make their way through the cerebral cortex and the cells get lost, ending up in the wrong places. Researchers are expanding this research to determine which molecular mechanisms of the JNK pathway affect the migration of interneurons, as well as their effects on the cerebral cortex. Expanding the findings will be essential for turning basic research into new diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for neurological and psychiatric diseases. To read more about this study, click here.