Abnormally located cortical neurons, displaced in developing mice lacking cortical Eml1, retain their molecular identities, form appropriate connections and build functional sensory maps. Most strikingly, these misplaced neurons can drive behavior by themselves — showing that brain function depends on how neurons connect, and to what, more than where they live.
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This is a summary of: Roig-Puiggros, S. et al. Position-independent emergence of neocortical neuron molecular identity, connectivity and function. Nat. Neurosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-02142-7 (2025).
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Rethinking the role of position in cortical function. Nat Neurosci 29, 250–251 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-02191-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-02191-y
