Neural progenitors organize in small-world networks to promote cell proliferation

Synchronized activity among groups of interconnected cells is essential for diverse functions in the brain. Most studies on neuronal networks have been performed in the mature brain when chemical synapses have been established. However, less is known about networking during embryonic development. We have studied neural progenitors and found that they form gap junction-mediated small-world networks, which, via electrical depolarization, drive spontaneous calcium activity to stimulate cell proliferation. Our data underscore the critical role of intricate cell signaling during embryonic development and show that complex networks of immature cells exist in the brain before birth.