The mammalian brain is one of the most complex networks in the known universe, and its precise connectivity is established through a convergence of genetic and environmental influences (i.e. nature and nurture, respectively). While many of the genetic factors that drive early stages of embryonic brain development are known, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms through which an organism’s interactions with the world around it—for example, in the form of sensory experience or pathogenic infection—sculpt and remodel neural circuits. We apply a diverse range of structural, functional, and molecular approaches to identify mechanisms of environmentally driven circuit wiring, with a focus on the roles of microglia and oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Given that impairments in environmentally driven synapse development contribute to the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), defining these mechanisms is a core goal of our laboratory that is poised to yield insights of therapeutic value in the years to come. You can learn more about specific projects here.
