Migration Disorders and Epilepsy

Abstract

Normal development of the cerebral cortex requires radial migration of cortical neurons from the ventricular zone towards the pial surface. During recent years new insights into the different steps of cortical layer formation have been gained from the study of genetic disorders in humans and from the investigation of spontaneous or engineered mouse mutants. From these studies individual molecules have been identified which are crucially involved in the different steps of migration, i.e. migration onset, the actual migration along radial glial fibers and neuronal positioning. Here we will review current knowledge of the molecular pathways governing correct cortical layer formation which is a prerequisite for normal brain function.