Molmechindividuality · Molecular mechanisms of neuronal connectivity - the synaptic code for variability and stereotypy

Molecular mechanisms of neuronal connectivity - the synaptic code for variability and stereotypy

Individual differences even amongst genetically identical twins, implies the existence of intrinsic mechanisms to generate variability. This variability is often referred to as developmental noise. Developmental noise creates variability not only at the exterior morphology of animals, but it also creates variability of the nervous system. The contribution of these developmental imprecisions in nervous system development to individual behavior, in humans for personality remains largely unknown. This important question on the origins of individual variation has major implications for the nature nurture debate and is a key question of the neurosciences and psychology. Given the central scientific importance of this question, providing a scientific answer progresses not only science, but also society. Additionally, to progressing societal knowledge answering questions about individual variations has also key implications to emerging fields as personalized medicine, underscoring the importance of individualized treatments of diseases. My work demonstrated in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster that individual behavioral variation exists and to a similar degree individual variation in brain wiring. I could demonstrate that individual differences in brain wiring are functionally relevant and that differences in neuronal anatomy originating from stochastic developmental processes are important for the behavioral outcome by creating individual wiring diagrams.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз