Scaffold cell-dependent migration, in which neuronal cadherin (N-cadherencadherin) adhesive molecules are tightly regulated, provides one mode of motility in developing neuron tissue. During cell migration, N-cadherencadherin binds the neuron to a glial fiber, and allows for transfer of force, generated by an intracellular actin network treadmilling, to the glial fiber. Force transmission across the cell-[[glial cell|glial fiber]] interface sums over many individual N-cadherencadherin/glial-fiber interactions, allowing required levels of traction force essential for migration. It has also been shown that these adhesive cadherin molecules are internalized, and recycled by the migratory neuron. This cadherin recycling mechanism is thought to be substantial in the neural adhesion-based migratory pathway.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Kawauchi|first=T|title=Cell Adhesion and Its Endocytic Regulation in Cell Migration during Neural Development and Cancer Metastasis|journal=International Journal of Molecular Science|year=2012|volume=13|series=4|pages=4564–4590}}</ref> Cadherin based migration is essential to tissue organization in the central nervous system, specifically in cortical layer formation.
It has also been sugguested that the N-cadherin pathway may be crucial in neuron [[Cell differentiation|differentiation]], as knockdown of the N-cadherin pathway leads to premature neuron differentiation.
