MeCP2: an epigenetic regulator of critical periods

•MeCP2 regulates the timing of critical periods in sensory cortex.•MeCP2 binds and drives expression of genes implicated in synaptic plasticity and the expression of CP.•MeCP2 controls CP in a cell-specific manner. Complex adult behaviors arise from the integration of sequential and often overlapping critical periods (CPs) early in life and adolescence. These processes rely on a subtle interplay between the set of genes inherited from the parents, the surrounding environment and epigenetic regulation. Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) has been shown to recognize epigenetic states and regulate gene expression by reading methylated DNA. Here, we will review the recent findings revealing the role of MeCP2 during postnatal CPs of development using mouse models of Rett (RTT) syndrome.