Myelination and plasticity: oligodendrocyte development across brain regions with different plasticity periods.

Beyond axon insulation, oligodendrocytes may serve as gatekeepers of plasticity. In the central nervous system, the myelin is produced by oligodendrocytes and speeds up neural transmission, improving the efficiency of neural circuits. During development, myelination participates in defining critical periods of plasticity, with different brain regions myelinated at different rates. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been linked to disruptions in both plasticity and myelination, leading to differences in sensory processing, cognition, and social communication. ASD is linked to imbalanced plasticity and myelination, where some brain regions stay plastic for too long while others mature too quickly. However, the exact mechanism by which plasticity windows close as myelination increases remains unknown. To address this, I will examine the developmental dynamics of oligodendrocyte populations across brain regions with different plasticity periods. By comparing cortical regions and the basolateral amygdala (where circuits develop until adulthood), this study will pinpoint the key regulators of oligodendrocyte maturation that determine myelination timing across areas with different plasticity periods. Together, these findings will inform targeted strategies to modulate myelination and enhance circuit connectivity, ultimately defining optimal intervention windows for neurodevelopmental disorders linked to myelin dysfunction.