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Related Experiment Videos

Cortical area size dictates performance at modality-specific behaviors.

Axel Leingärtner1, Sandrine Thuret, Todd T Kroll

  • 1Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory and Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|March 16, 2007
PubMed
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Altering the size of brain areas by changing EMX2 levels in mice affects motor and tactile behaviors. Optimal brain area size is crucial for peak behavioral performance, highlighting developmental regulation importance.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Behavioral Genetics

Background:

  • The mammalian neocortex comprises specialized areas for sensory perception and behavior.
  • Variations in cortical area size across and within species raise questions about size-behavior relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the causal relationship between cortical area size and behavioral performance.
  • To determine if manipulating EMX2 levels, which affects area size, impacts sensory and motor behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Genetically engineered mice with altered EMX2 expression in embryonic cortical progenitor cells.
  • Assessed tactile and motor behaviors in mice with modified somatosensory and motor cortical area sizes.
  • Utilized genetic crosses to isolate effects of cortical EMX2 levels on area size and behavior.

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Main Results:

  • Overexpressing EMX2 reduced somatosensory and motor area sizes, leading to impaired tactile and motor behaviors.
  • Decreasing cortical EMX2 levels enlarged sensorimotor areas but also diminished sensorimotor behaviors.
  • Restoring wild-type EMX2 levels normalized both cortical area sizes and behavioral performance.

Conclusions:

  • Cortical area size is a critical determinant of modality-specific behavioral performance.
  • There exists an optimal size for brain areas, influenced by neural system parameters, for maximal behavioral function.
  • Embryonic development of appropriate regulatory protein levels is essential for establishing optimal area sizes and subsequent behavior.