@article{21707,
  abstract     = {Structural and functional differences between brain hemispheres are a common feature of animal nervous systems with reduced bilateral asymmetry often linked to impaired cognitive performance. How neuronal left-right asymmetry is initiated and integrated into a bilaterally symmetrical ground pattern is poorly understood. Here, we show that the directional asymmetry of a Drosophila central brain circuit originates from axonal interactions of two types of bilateral pioneer neurons. Subsequent recruitment of neighboring neurons into the asymmetric neuropil primordium results in hemisphere-specific microcircuits. Circuit lateralization requires dynamic expression of the cell adhesion molecule Fasciclin 2 to maintain structural plasticity in axonal remodeling. Reduced circuit asymmetry following cell type–specific Fasciclin 2 manipulation affects adult brain function. These results reveal an unexpected degree of developmental plasticity of late-born Drosophila neurons in the formation of a circuit node via the lateralized recruitment of symmetric circuit components.},
  author       = {Markovitsch, Johann W. and Mitić, Daniel and Del Pilar Jiménez García, Alisa and Zane, Alsberga and Kainz, Sarah and Kaur, Rashmit and Hummel, Thomas},
  issn         = {2375-2548},
  journal      = {Science Advances},
  number       = {13},
  publisher    = {American Association for the Advancement of Science},
  title        = {{Sequential formation of Drosophila circuit asymmetry via prolonged structural plasticity}},
  doi          = {10.1126/sciadv.aea6020},
  volume       = {12},
  year         = {2026},
}