Research interests

Our laboratory is interested in cellular and genetic mechanisms of development of the cerebral cortex, the largest structure of the mammalian brain. The cortex represents a folded sheet of neurons that forms a wrapping around the outside of the brain. The cortex is a good system for studying neuronal development, since there are known mutations that systematically disrupt its development.

Abnormal development of the cerebral cortex in humans results in epilepsy, autism, mental retardation, dyslexia, and other learning disorders, and perhaps some psychiatric conditions as well. Several projects are directed at trying to understand the basic biology of the cortex by studying the mutations that disturb its development.