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CANCELLED - Exploring the Principles of Brain Wiring through Visuomotor TransformationNIH Only

Air date: Thursday, February 13, 2025, 3:00:00 PM
Time displayed is Eastern Time, Washington DC Local
Description: My research investigates the molecular determinants of synaptic specificity, a critical yet poorly understood step in neural circuit assembly that ensures precise connections between synaptic partners. To investigate this, I study visuomotor circuits in Drosophila, a model system where genetic and molecular regulators of neuronal connectivity can be causally linked to the functional wiring of behaviorally relevant circuits. This work has led to the discovery of a novel "Synaptic Gradient" wiring strategy, which transforms spatial positional information into synapse numbers. Additionally, I uncovered a mechanism of "Within-Cell-Type Synaptic Specificity," where individual neurons of the same neuronal type achieve distinct synaptic connections through continuous molecular diversification. These findings provide a conceptual framework and mechanistic insights into brain wiring principles with broad implications for understanding neural circuit development in any system.
Author: Mark Dombrovskiy, Ph.D.
Runtime: 1 hour