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Introduction to special issue on The Role of Connectivity in Developmental Disorders: Genetic and Neural Network Approaches

Introduction to special issue on The Role of Connectivity in Developmental Disorders: Genetic and... Developmental Science 19:4 (2016), p 523 DOI: 10.1111/desc.12477 Introduction to special issue on The Role of Connectivity in Developmental Disorders: Genetic and Neural Network Approaches Typical brain development depends on an intricate disorders, which then gets expressed in so-called synap- orchestration of genes and gene networks that work topathies or connectopathies, or is there another mech- synergistically to regulate the development of neurons anism that leads neural networks to go awry (e.g. faulty and synapses. Eventually, individual synapses join other environmental input)? Finally, how does one examine synapses to form neural networks and it is these such errors in development, given the limitations of our networks that ultimately determine behavior. Unfortu- ability to directly visualize the brain at the network level? nately the development of such networks does not always This special issue of Developmental Science focuses on proceed in a typical fashion; indeed, errors in network aberrant patterns of neural connectivity that lead to development are thought to be responsible for many patterns of atypical brain development and, in turn, neurodevelopmental disorders. For example, there has atypical behavioral development. Represented in this been some speculation that autism reflects an imbalance special issue are papers that run the gamut from of excitation and inhibition, which in turn can lead to molecular to neural approaches to understanding con- disruptions in neural functioning, as can an overabun- nectopathies, with the ultimate goal of explicating dance of local connections and a surfeit of long-distance underlying mechanisms of behavior. A variety of connections. methodological approaches are represented (e.g. fMRI, Moving from the systems level to the molecular level, EEG), as are a variety of different disorders (e.g. autism, the field of neurodevelopment is beginning to abandon obsessive compulsive disorder, dyslexia). Collectively we the notion that, except in rare cases (e.g. Rett Syndrome), believe this special issue will lay the foundation for future individual genes ‘cause’ a disorder; rather, as is the case research designed to examine errors in brain develop- with synapses, it is now believed that networks of genes ment that lead to the human toll associated with are responsible for atypical trajectories in brain devel- neurodevelopmental disorders, and perhaps also indi- opment. Again, these gene networks work through vidual differences in brain development. neural networks. A question for the future is how does Charles A. Nelson III this network diagram go awry? Is it a feature of the Co-Editor underlying genes, as occurs in many single gene © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Developmental Science Wiley

Introduction to special issue on The Role of Connectivity in Developmental Disorders: Genetic and Neural Network Approaches

Nelson, Charles A.
Developmental Science , Volume 19 (4) – Jul 1, 2016
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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISSN
1363-755X
eISSN
1467-7687
DOI
10.1111/desc.12477
pmid
27412227
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Developmental Science 19:4 (2016), p 523 DOI: 10.1111/desc.12477 Introduction to special issue on The Role of Connectivity in Developmental Disorders: Genetic and Neural Network Approaches Typical brain development depends on an intricate disorders, which then gets expressed in so-called synap- orchestration of genes and gene networks that work topathies or connectopathies, or is there another mech- synergistically to regulate the development of neurons anism that leads neural networks to go awry (e.g. faulty and synapses. Eventually, individual synapses join other environmental input)? Finally, how does one examine synapses to form neural networks and it is these such errors in development, given the limitations of our networks that ultimately determine behavior. Unfortu- ability to directly visualize the brain at the network level? nately the development of such networks does not always This special issue of Developmental Science focuses on proceed in a typical fashion; indeed, errors in network aberrant patterns of neural connectivity that lead to development are thought to be responsible for many patterns of atypical brain development and, in turn, neurodevelopmental disorders. For example, there has atypical behavioral development. Represented in this been some speculation that autism reflects an imbalance special issue are papers that run the gamut from of excitation and inhibition, which in turn can lead to molecular to neural approaches to understanding con- disruptions in neural functioning, as can an overabun- nectopathies, with the ultimate goal of explicating dance of local connections and a surfeit of long-distance underlying mechanisms of behavior. A variety of connections. methodological approaches are represented (e.g. fMRI, Moving from the systems level to the molecular level, EEG), as are a variety of different disorders (e.g. autism, the field of neurodevelopment is beginning to abandon obsessive compulsive disorder, dyslexia). Collectively we the notion that, except in rare cases (e.g. Rett Syndrome), believe this special issue will lay the foundation for future individual genes ‘cause’ a disorder; rather, as is the case research designed to examine errors in brain develop- with synapses, it is now believed that networks of genes ment that lead to the human toll associated with are responsible for atypical trajectories in brain devel- neurodevelopmental disorders, and perhaps also indi- opment. Again, these gene networks work through vidual differences in brain development. neural networks. A question for the future is how does Charles A. Nelson III this network diagram go awry? Is it a feature of the Co-Editor underlying genes, as occurs in many single gene © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Journal

Developmental Science – Wiley

Published: Jul 1, 2016

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