Cellular mechanisms underlying the formation of orderly connections in developing sensory pathways.

摘要: Publisher Summary The chapter focuses on the cellular mechanisms underlying formation of orderly connections in developing sensory pathways. It also proposes that electrophysiological state postsynaptic neurons is key to understanding how are formed. Developing not only equipped with machinery responsive molecular cues their immediate environment and distant targets, but they possess several intrinsic membrane properties synaptic responses enable them form functional neural generally assumed various differentiating “immature”, lacking certain characteristics associated mature neurons. More likely, these “immature” reflect a optimizes precision developmental wiring nervous system. Some lost or reduced as favor other aspects information processing. summarizes evidence showing both rat trigeminal kitten retinogeniculate pathways; there striking similarities first order central system (CNS) relay during development. combination voltage ligand-gated conductances avenues access Ca 2+ ions clearly advantageous detecting relative strength presynaptic inputs, well minimizing signal distortion. These studies indicate immature distinctive could contribute substantially remodeling connectivity regulation activity Hebbian fashion. Moreover, may be common feature development diverse pathways mammalian brain.