During development, neurons migrate to various final destinations to build a functional brain. We still know very little about how migrating neurons can precisely “know” where and when to terminate migration when reaching their respective destinations.

Using developing hindbrain as our model system and employing a combination of mouse genetics with in vivo/in vitro manipulations, we explore how neurons integrate extrinsic cues with their intrinsic physical properties such as cell geometries and migration speed to determine where to terminate migration.