Genetical Alterations in Juvenile Mice

Neural network construction and information processing in the brain both require synaptic plasticity. As circuits in the mammalian forebrain mature, synaptic plasticity is adjusted to better suit information processing. Disruption of this process has been implicated in various neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders. In the rodent hippocampus, this transition happens late in postnatal development, culminating in the emergence of hippocampal-dependent learning and memory abilities at the end of the third postnatal week. This research aims to explore the molecular determinants of the developmental alterations in synaptic plasticity and emergence of cognitive abilities.