Objective
The search for the fundamental mechanisms of learning and experience-dependent memory formation in the brain has long been a central quest in neuroscience. The neocortex is a particularly relevant region for plasticity because it is involved in sensory, motor, and cognitive tasks with strong learning components. However, despite many years of intensive research our knowledge of the neuronal mechanisms of plasticity on the level of single synapses in the intact living brain is still very limited.
Here I propose the use of cutting edge technology, including the ultrasensitive LOTOS procedure of in vivo two-photon calcium imaging that was developed in our laboratory, to investigate for the first time the functional properties and the plasticity of signal synapses in auditory cortical pyramidal neurons of layers 2/3, 4 and 5 in vivo. For the study of the cellular determinants of synaptic plasticity we will focus on an associative learning paradigm underlying cued fear conditioning. Importantly, this paradigm can be rapidly and effectively induced not only in awake, but also in anesthetized animals and is therefore ideally suited for these studies. In addition to a comprehensive analysis of wild type animals, we will perform experiments in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), aiming to identify the cellular cause of the devastating impairment of memory formation observed in patients suffering from AD.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology dementia alzheimer
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
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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-2012-ADG_20120314
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
80333 Muenchen
Germany
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.