Summary
Neural basis of locomotor dysfunction in Down Syndrome PI: Gallo, Vittorio, PhD Down syndrome (DS), the most commonly diagnosed chromosomal condition, affects a range of behavioral domains in children including motor and cognitive function. Cerebellar pathology has been consistently observed in DS, and is thought to contribute to dysfunction in locomotor and adaptive motor skills. However, the specific neural pathways underlying locomotor learning that are disrupted in DS remain poorly understood. The main goal of this proposal is to identify specific alterations in the circuitry of the cerebellum that results in locomotor dysfunction in DS. This will enable precise identification of circuit-to-behavior mechanisms disrupted in DS.