The cerebellum, a brain region located at the back of the head that has long been known to support the coordination of muscle movements, has recently also been implicated in more sophisticated mental functions. Purkinje cells are the only neurons located in the cerebellum that integrate information in the cerebellar cortex and send it to other parts of the nervous system.

Purkinje cells are large and highly branched nerve cells that can have different functions. While many past studies have explored the roles of these cells, the neural and genetic processes shaping their diversity have not yet been fully elucidated.

Researchers at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine recently carried out a study aimed at exploring the possible role of the FOXP genes, a family of genes known to contribute to switching other genes “on and off,” in shaping Purkinje cell populations and the formation of circuits in the cerebellum. Their findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, hint at the existence of at least 11 different Purkinje cell subtypes, suggesting that the FOXP1 and FOXP2 genes contribute to their diversification.