Continuing our understanding on the role of programmed cell death in shaping the interneuron population in the developing mouse cortex, Fong has recently published a paper on Cell Reports. In this paper, she has shown that interneuron survival is regulated in an input-specific manner during the period of programmed cell death. More specifically, the neurogliaform and the caudal-ganglionic eminence derived basket cells rely on glutamatergic neurotransmissions. Bipolar cells su