Anniversary Lecture

The development of cortical interneurons: Getting excited about inhibition

Prof. Oscar Marín

Gamma-aminobutyric acid-containing (GABAergic) interneurons play major roles in the function of the cerebral cortex. Through mostly inhibitory mechanisms, interneurons regulate the activity of pyramidal cells, prevent hyperexcitability, and synchronize the rhythmic output of cortical activity. In addition, growing evidence suggest that disruption of interneuron function is common to several psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia. Given their extraordinary diversity, understanding cortical interneuron development seems crucial to shed light into their role in cortical processing, both in health and disease. This talk will review some of the molecular mechanisms controlling the development of cortical interneurons in the mouse, focusing on thee different problems: how does cortical interneuron diversity arise? What mechanisms control the migration and final allocation of interneurons in the cortex? How does abnormal interneuron development relate to disease?