30/11/15
The study aims to link some of our basic knowledge of how different kinds of brain cell are generated in the brain in the context of a changing hormonal milieu in the embryo. It builds on series of studies where the researchers have looked at how retinoic acid, a Vitamin A derivative, subtly alters connections in the developing brain.
The cerebellum is conventionally seen as a motor control centre, but has the more general capability of acting as an “adaptive filter” for a range of brain processes, including cognition. Research over the last 10 years has shown that if the development of the cerebellum is disrupted in early embryonic life, the later, negative outcomes for cognitive development can be surprisingly significant.
Richard Wingate
