Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 24
Mechanisms of Brain Morphogenesis
Benjamen A. Filas, Gang Xu, and Larry A. Taber
Abstract
In structures with obvious mechanical function, like the heart and bone,
the relationship of mechanical forces to growth and development has been well stud-
ied. In contrast, other than the problem of neurulation, the developmental mecha-
nisms in the nervous system have received relatively little attention. In this review
we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the physical mechanisms of
morphogenesis during brain development. Specifically, we focus on two processes:
formation of the primary brain vesicles and folding of the cerebral cortex.
24.1 Introduction
During development, the brain undergoes a dramatic transformation from a simple
tubular structure to (in large mammals) a highly convoluted shape. Most investiga-
tors recognize that mechanics plays a major role in this process, but the physical
mechanisms of brain morphogenesis remain poorly understood.
In this review, we discuss the state of the field and some of the current research
challenges. Where appropriate, we emphasize interspecies differences in morpho-
genetic mechanisms, as understanding these differences can provide insight into the
development of individual organisms (Lui et al.,
2011
). After discussing background
and embryology we focus on the formation of the primary vesicles in the early brain
and cortical folding, which occurs relatively late in development. These processes
warrant further study, as abnormalities in brain shape and folding patterns have been
linked to a wide array of neurological disorders including schizophrenia, epilepsy,
B.A. Filas
)
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
e-mail:
lat@wustl.edu
B.A. Filas
e-mail:
baf1@cec.wustl.edu
ยท
L.A. Taber (
G. Xu
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis,
MO 63130, USA
e-mail:
gxu@seas.wustl.edu
