Objective
A fundamental feature of the developing neural circuits is their ability to change in response to sensorial experience. This phenomenon has been particularly observed during the generation of cortical maps, where altering the pattern of sensory experience changes the spatial organization of sensory representations. The mechanisms underlying this form of plasticity include synaptic modification such as long-term potentiation and long-term depression, classically referred to as Hebbian-based rules. Today, there is growing evidence that prior to sensory experience, neural electrical activity plays a role in early brain development. In several developing circuits including retina, spinal cord, hippocampus and cortex, there are transient events that cause these circuits to spontaneously generate waves of correlated activity. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that translate these spontaneous activity patterns into mature neural circuits that will eventually be ruled by Hebbian-type plasticity remain largely unknown. The first part of this proposal deals with early events in development in which sensory-independent factors outline a first draft of neuronal connections: How spontaneous activity and molecular factors integrate to shape initial neuronal connectivity? Based in our own findings and using the mammalian visual system as a model, we will genetically silence spontaneous activity in a specific population of neurons and will screen for molecules induced by spontaneous waves. We will also dissect the relative contribution of the different stages of spontaneous waves and will try to understand the relationship of spontaneous activity with different families of axon guidance molecules during the assembly of neural circuits. In the second part of the project we will determine to what extent cortical maps wiring depends on the formation of early thalamic properties and how this wiring may be modified by experience to optimally support information processing.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine ophthalmology
- natural sciences computer and information sciences data science data processing
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
ERC-2011-StG_20101109
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Host institution
28006 MADRID
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.