BookRyoichiro Kageyama, Tetsuo Yamamori, editors.
Summary: This book reviews recent progress in cortical development research, focusing on the mechanisms of neural stem cell regulation, neuronal diversity and connectivity formation, and neocortical organization. Development of the cerebral cortex, the center for higher brain functions such as cognition, memory, and decision making, is one of the major targets of current research. The cerebral cortex is divided into many areas, including motor, sensory, and visual cortices, each of which consists of six layers containing a variety of neurons with different activities and connections. As this book explains, such diversity in neuronal types and connections is generated at various levels. First, neural stem cells change their competency over time, giving sequential rise to distinct types of neurons and glial cells: initially deep layer neurons, then superficial layer neurons, and lastly astrocytes. The activities and connections of neurons are further modulated via interactions with other brain regions, such as the thalamocortical circuit, and via input from the environment. This book on cortical development is essential reading for students, postdocs, and neurobiologists.
Contents:
Dynamic Notch Signaling in Neural Progenitor Cells / Hiromi Shimojo, Yuki Maeda, Toshiyuki Ohtsuka and Ryoichiro Kageyama
Proneural Proteins and the Development of the Cerebral Cortex / Julian Heng and François Guillemot
The Role of the Transcription Factor Pax6 in Brain Development and Evolution: Evidence and Hypothesis / Noriko Osumi and Takako Kikkawa
Regulatory Mechanisms Underlying the Neurogenesis-to-Gliogenesis Switch by Neural Stem Cells / Takuya Shimazaki
Specification of GABAergic Neocortical Interneurons / Goichi Miyoshi, Robert P. Machold and Gord Fishell
Regulation of Cortical Circuit Formation / Fernanda M. Rodríguez-Tornos, Beatriz Cubelos and Marta Nieto
Neocortical Neurogenesis and Circuit Assembly / Peng Gao, Khadeejah T. Sultan, Xin-Jun Zhang and Song-Hai Shi
Hierarchical Organization of Neocortical Neuron Types / Yasuo Kawaguchi
Emerging Roles of Heparan Sulfate in Axon Guidance Signaling / Masayuki Masu
The Roles of RECK, a Membrane-Anchored Regulator of Pericellular Proteolysis, in Neural Development / Makoto Noda
Synapse Formation in the Brain / Masayoshi Mishina, Tomoyuki Yoshida and Misato Yasumura
Genomic Imprinting in the Mammalian Brain / Wei-Chao Huang and Christopher Gregg
Genes Selectively Expressed in the Visual Cortex of the Old World Monkey / Yusuke Komatsu, Shigeko Toita, Masanari Ohtsuka and Toru Takahata.