"Neural circuit formation underlying locomotor and skilled movements." Prof. Yutaka Yoshida.

Dear all,

Cell Signal Unit (Yamamoto Unit) would like to invite you to a seminar by Prof. Yutaka Yoshida.

Speaker: Prof. Yutaka Yoshida

Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Title: Neural circuit formation underlying locomotor and skilled movements.

Abstract: Our lab has been focusing on understanding motor behaviors such as locomotor and skilled movements.  Motor neurons innervate all of the muscle groups in the limb and, via complex regulatory networks of local interneurons, proprioceptive sensory neurons, and descending fibers from the brain, relay the final motor outputs controlling animal behavior. 

We have previously shown how proprioceptive sensory neurons project axons to the spinal cord (Yoshida et al., Neuron, 2006; Leslie et al., Development, 2011) and how proprioceptive axons form specific synapses with selective motor neurons (Pecho-Vrieseling et al., Nature, 2009; Fukuhara et al., Cell Reports, 2013).  Our recent unpublished studies further reveled how proprioceptive sensory axons form mature synapses after they find appropriate motor neuron targets, and how sensory-motor circuits are maintained in adults. 

In contrast to locomotor, skilled movements require various brain regions including the motor cortex.  We especially focus on corticospinal circuits.  Although corticospinal circuits control skilled movements by regulating precise patterns of muscle activation, how corticospinal circuits establish proper circuits with various limb muscles during development remain unknown.  Using electrophysiology and trans-synaptic viruses, we explored the connectivity between the motor cortex and various functionally related muscle pairs, and found novel synaptic refinement of corticospinal circuits.  In addition, we found novel synapse elimination that is required for skilled movements in mice.  In my presentation, I would like to discuss these new findings.