We are interested in the mechanisms underlying spontaneous activity in the developing nervous system and the role this activity plays in the construction of neuronal circuits. There are several examples throughout the developing vertebrate nervous system, including the retina, spinal cord, hippocampus and neocortex, where immature neural circuits generate activity patterns that are distinct from the functioning adult circuitry. It has been proposed that these transitional circuits provide the test patterns necessary for normal development of the adult nervous system. Here we study this phenomenon in the mouse retina. Click on the headings to learn more!