Research Interests

My lab is interested in the genetic and cellular basis of the development of the mammalian amygdala. The amygdala is a major component of the brain's limbic system, a functionally interconnected set of forebrain structures that also includes the hippocampus, prefrontal and cingulate cortices, hypothalamus, and nucleus accumbens. Despite an extensive understanding of amygdala function and anatomy, currently little is known regarding the embryonic development of this complex structure. Using the mouse as an experimental model, we are examining how migrating neural progenitor cells in the developing telencephalon contribute to neuronal cell diversity in the mature amygdala and how these cells become wired together to form mature brain circuits.

The ultimate goal of our studies is to understand the link between developmental events and the assembly of the mature amygdala at a genetic, cellular, structural and functional level. To investigate these questions we employ a variety of tools including generation and analysis of conditional knockout mice, cell specific lineage tracing using recombination-mediated lineage marking in transgenic animals and ultrasound guided imaging which allows us to deliver labeled cells or retroviruses to the early developing embryonic telencephalon at developmental times that were previously inaccessible. From these studies, we hope to elucidate not only the normal mechanisms of brain development, but also gain a greater understanding of the etiology of developmental disorders in which development of the amygdala is affected.