Munz lab

We are interested in development and function of neuronal circuits and the mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism

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Development

Circuit formation is a highly precise process where neurons wire together to enable complex processing of information. Neuronal circuits start to assemble during embryonic development yet how they assemble is poorly understood despite their importance for our understanding of human cognition and neurodevelopmental disorders. To better understand how neuronal circuits are formed during embryonic ages we developed an experimental approach to perform microscopy and electrophysiology of neuronal circuits from their inception until birth, in vivo.

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Function

In addition to circuit development we are also interested in the function and architecture of neuronal circuits once they are fully developed. We are particularly interested in the cortical circuitry – an area of the brain that is thought to be important for sensory perception, cognition, and other high-order functions. Our aim is to understand computations of neuronal circuits in cortex. We are combining in vivo functional imaging, mouse genetics, neural circuit tracing (using viruses), pharmacology (using different anaesthetics), electrophysiological recordings, neuronal activity manipulation (using optogenetics), animal behavior, and others methods to unravel how the cortex makes sense of the environment.

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Autism

Neuronal circuit development can be impacted by both environmental and genetic factors and both have been postulated as causes for neurodevelopmental disorders. A large number of genes associated with autism have been shown to converge on embryonic processes that contribute to embryonic brain development. However, our understanding of the mechanisms involved in embryonic development of neuronal circuits is incomplete and insufficient to explain how neurodevelopmental disorders arise. These mechanisms include neurogenesis, cortical lamination, neuronal activity, and synaptic processes, such as synapse formation. Further, the cortex of autistic children displays patches of disorganisation (focal cortical dysplasias). Therefore, we study circuit formation by observing embryonic circuit development in vivo while at the same time manipulating gene expression of high risk autism genes.

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