Dendritic Spine Formation in Developing Neural Networks

Abstract

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) exhibit genetic and clinical abnormalities in brain development and function. Different NDDs such as intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) reveal complex symptoms during developmental stages. NDDs are often characterized by its failure to pass cognitive, emotional, social, and motor milestones. This disruption of the neural networks that primarily lead to development indicates that clinical symptoms are outwardly displayed due to the underlying disorganization of molecular pathologies. In particular, this research focuses on the molecular implications of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) pertaining to dendritic spine development and its associated precursors demonstrated through induced pluripotent stem cell models. Behavioral and structural findings support that this multifactorial disorder is a manifestation of abnormal neuronal connectivity while also demonstrating that autistic brain organization differs from that of non-autistic brains. The use of hiPSCs has emerged as an influential model of human brain development and is considered an incredibly useful tool for discovering the molecular mechanisms behind neurodevelopmental disorders. Further research examining spine morphology can elucidate the influence of synapse formation and stability, while also investigating the transition of dendritic spines that affect higher-order cognitive function.