Trekking across the brain: the journey of neuronal migration

Abstract

The correct positioning of neurons during development--achieved through directed migration--is the basis for proper brain function. Several decades of research have yielded a comprehensive map illustrating the temporal and spatial events underlying neurogenesis and neuronal migration during development. The discovery of distinct migration modes and pathways has been accompanied by the identification of a large interwoven molecular network that transmits extracellular signals into the cell. Moreover, recent work has shed new light on how the cytoskeleton is regulated and coordinated at the molecular and cellular level to execute neuronal migration.