title: Patterning of pre-thalamic somatosensory pathways.
abstract: The topographical mapping of input is a fundamental organizing principle of sensory pathways. In the somatosensory system, a precise topographical representation of the face is first generated in the brainstem and then faithfully replicated in the thalamus and cortex. Although our knowledge of the distinct polysynaptic pathways that link cutaneous mechanoreceptors of the face with neocortical neurons has recently expanded, the molecular mechanisms controlling their neuron-type-specific assembly during development remain poorly understood. The increasing availability of genetic tools that enable manipulation of these developing circuits with cellular resolution now opens new perspectives in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which input from the periphery is converted into patterned central pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Neurosciences and Clinic of Neurology, University of Geneva, Centre Medico-Universitaire, 1 rue Michel-Servet, CH 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pouchelon
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frangeul
authors.forename: Filippo M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Rijli
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jabaudon
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000294:innervation