The formation of the cranial nerves in the developing nervous system depends on a highly coordinated series of events that involves the growth of sensory and motor axons towards their specific targets. While a lot of attention has been paid to the origin of motoneurons and how this relates to the segmental pattern of the hindbrain (rhombomeres), less attention has been paid to how the axons of sensory and motor neurons grow during development to ensure proper connectivity.

This project will examine the development of sensory axons and those of branchiomotor neurons and how these may interact during the formation of mixed cranial nerves.