Newcastle University

Developmental Neuroscience

Our research in Developmental Neuroscience spans from the genetics of human brain development and the effect of gene mutations, through to the psychology of typically developing children and those with neuro-developmental disorders, including autistic spectrum disorders and William's syndrome.  Underlying the work on cortical development is the MRC-Wellcome Trust Human Developmental Biology Resource, a unique resource of human embryonic and foetal tissue from which we are building an Electronic Atlas of the Developing Human Brain. Through our clinical research in pediatric neurology we are identifying nuclear and mitochondrial genes that contribute to abnormal development, and examining normal post-natal development of the cortex and the adaptive responses in cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injury. Animal models help us understand the mechanisms underlying plasticity of motor pathways.  Our work on visual development concerns both the organisation of the retina in animal models and the treatment of visual impairments. Finally, psychological development includes studies on the acquisition of language, changing visual perception of faces and social scenes, and the development and treatment of anxiety disorders amongst adolescents and how this may be influence by parent-child relationships.

Staff:

Selected Publications:

Genetics and Neurobiology:

• Bayatti N, Moss JA, Sun L, Ambrose P, Ward JF, Lindsay S, Clowry GJ (2008) A molecular neuroanatomical study of the developing human neocortex from 8 to 17 post-conceptional weeks revealing the early differentiation of the subplate and subventricular zone. Cerebral Cortex 18:1536-1548 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17965125)
• Lindsay S, Sarma S, Martinez-De-La-Torre M, Kerwin J, Scott M, Ferran JL, Baldock R, Puelles L (2005) Anatomical and gene expression mapping of the ventral pallium in a three-dimensional model of developing human brain. Neuroscience 136: 625-632 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16344140)
• Henderson RA, Williamson K, Cumming S, Clarke MP, Lynch SA, Hanson IM, FitzPatrick DR, Sisodiya S, van Heyningen V (2007) Inherited PAX6, NF1 and OTX2 mutations in a child with microphthalmia and aniridia. European Journal of Human Genetics 15: 898-901 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17406642)
• McFarland R, Kirby DM, Fowler KJ, Ohtake A, Ryan MT, Amor DJ, Fletcher JM, Dixon JW, Collins FA, Turnbull DM, Taylor RW, Thorburn DR (2004) De novo mutations in the mitochondrial ND3 gene as a cause of infantile mitochondrial encephalopathy and complex I deficiency. Annals of Neurology 55: 58-64 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14705112)
• Dobson CB, Villagra F, Clowry GJ, Smith M, Kenwrick S, Donnai D, Miller S, Eyre JA (2001) Abnormal corticospinal function but normal axonal guidance in human L1CAM mutations. Brain 124: 2393-2406 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11701594)
• Clowry GJ, Walker L, Davies P (2006) The effects of botulinum neurotoxin A induced muscle paresis during a critical period upon muscle and spinal cord development in the rat. Experimental Neurology 202: 456-469 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16928374)
• Leitch E, Coaker J, Young C, Mehta V, Sernagor E (2005) GABA type-A activity controls its own developmental polarity switch in the maturing retina. Journal of Neuroscience 25: 4801-4805 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15888655)

Psychology:

• Riby DM, Hancock PJ (2008) Viewing it differently: Social scene perception in Williams syndrome and autism. Neuropsychologia [Epub ahead of print] (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18561959)
• O'Hanlon CG, Roberson D (2006) Learning in context: linguistic and attentional constraints on children's color term learning. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 94: 275-300 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16438979)
• Turgeon L, O'Connor KP, Marchand A, Freeston MH (2002) Recollections of parent-child relationships in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia. Acta Psychiatrica Scandanavica 105: 310-316 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11942936)
• Honey E, Leekam S, Turner M, McConachie H (2007) Repetitive behaviour and play in typically developing children and children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 37:1107-1115 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17072748)
• Darke J, Bushby K, Le Couteur A, McConachie H (2006) Survey of behaviour problems in children with neuromuscular diseases. European Journal of Paediatric Neurology 10: 129-134 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16766215)