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Electrical activity in early neuronal development

Nature volume 444, pages 707–712 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The construction of the brain during embryonic development was thought to be largely independent of its electrical activity. In this view, proliferation, migration and differentiation of neurons are driven entirely by genetic programs and activity is important only at later stages in refinement of connections. However, recent findings demonstrate that activity plays essential roles in early development of the nervous system. Activity has similar roles in the incorporation of newly born neurons in the adult nervous system, suggesting that there are general rules underlying activity-dependent development. The extensive involvement of activity makes it likely that it is required at all developmental stages as a necessary partner with genetic programs.

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Figure 1: Spontaneous release of neurotransmitters from neuroblasts generates elevations of calcium in embryonic progenitor cells that suppress their proliferation.
Figure 2: Neurotransmitter modulation of embryonic neuronal migration by stage-specific regulation of calcium transients.
Figure 3: Calcium-spike-dependent homeostatic specification of embryonic neurotransmitter expression.
Figure 4: Turning of embryonic axonal growth cones and elaboration of dendritic arbours depend on elevation of intracellular calcium.
Figure 5: The partnership of gene expression with electrical activity.

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Acknowledgements

I thank D. Berg, L. Borodinsky, M. Feller, A. Ghosh and K. Marek for comments on the manuscript.

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  1. Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences and Centre for Molecular Genetics, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, University of California San Diego, California, 92093-0357, La Jolla, USA

    Nicholas C. Spitzer

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Spitzer, N. Electrical activity in early neuronal development. Nature 444, 707–712 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05300

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