Oligodendrocytes are cells of the central nervous system that support neuronal activity by producing the myelin sheath, an insulating envelope that surrounds the axons of neurons and increases the speed of conduction of neuronal signals. Myelin plays critical roles in brain function, and abnormal myelination causes debilitating diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis. I want to study the oligodendrocytes of the cerebral cortex, the most complex region of the brain.