Objective
"Recently it has become clear that new oligodendrocytes and myelin are generated throughout adult life in rodents. Some major axon tracts including the corpus callosum contain a majority of unmyelinated axons even in maturity, suggesting that at least some of the adult-born oligodendrocytes might myelinate previously naked axons. This would be expected to alter dramatically the conduction properties of the newly-myelinated axons and the properties of the circuits in which they participate, contributing to neural plasticity.
It has been known for a long time that proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (also known as NG2 cells) in the developing CNS is controlled in part by electrical activity in axons. More recently, it was shown that NG2 cells form synapses with axons (""axoglial synapses"") and receive electrical stimulation from passing action potentials. This suggests that NG2 cells are “listening in” to electrical activity which, at some threshold, might stimulate them to differentiate and myelinate the active axon(s). MRI imaging of human brain has revealed that white matter volume continues to increase into the fourth decade of life and that specific tracts can undergo structural changes in response to complex activities such as piano playing or juggling. These and other observations raise the intriguing possibility that motor skills learning and motor memory might depend on new myelination. Testing this startling new idea is at the core of my proposed program of research. We shall investigate 1) the role of axoglial synapses in regulating NG2 cell proliferation and differentiation in the adult CNS and 2) the role of NG2 cells and myelin genesis in motor learning. Behavioural, cellular and molecular analyses of genetically manipulated mice will form the major part of the experimental approach."
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: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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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-ADG_20110310
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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
WC1E 6BT LONDON
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.