Hindbrain evolution, development, and organization

Development of the hindbrain is an evolutionarily important event in the organization of the nervous system. The vertebrate hindbrain develops into cerebellum, pons and medulla, and is responsible for controlling essentials such as respiration and heart function. In addition, the cranial nerves projecting from the hindbrain control muscles in the face, mandible, and eyes. With the intent of integrating developmental and evolutionary concepts, this publication brings together contributions from developmental, evolutionary and comparative neurobiologists who have investigated early hindbrain patterning and organization from a variety of perspectives and vertebrate systems. These contributions, based on presentations and discussions that took place during the 16th Karger Workshop, San Diego 2004, are focused on themes like comparisons and homology during development, rhombomeric organization of cranial nerve efferent neurons, community effects and segmental identity, cellular dynamics that pattern the embryonic hindbrain, and gene networks in the hindbrain.