Objective
Emotions are a central part of our mental self and health, playing a crucial role in guiding behaviors essential for survival. For instance, threats evoke fear and avoidance behaviors; conversely, rewards induce reward-states and approach behaviors. Resolving how the variety of emotions emerges in the brain remains a major challenge for modern neuroscience. The main objective of the proposed research is to investigate how opposite emotions like fear and reward are differentially processed in the limbic system. We hypothesize that these basic emotional states are encoded by interactions of neural circuits specific for negative or positive emotional valence and circuits for arousal. To address this problem, we will first aim to develop a novel genetic tagging approach for differential brain-wide screening for emotional valence and arousal circuits in a combined Pavlovian fear and reward conditioning task. Second, we will investigate how fear and reward are encoded in selected hotspots within this circuitry: by pharmaco- and optogenetic manipulations, we will test whether emotional states require the activity of, and can be induced by, a combination of valence and arousal circuits. This research will provide a circuit mechanistic framework for understanding the neural organization of emotions in health and disease and establishes a novel imaging method which will be useful for investigating other brain functions in a similar fashion.
This postdoctoral project will significantly contribute to my career development by complementing my expertise in behavioral neuroscience with training in circuit neuroscience and by reinforcing my professional maturity and leadership qualities. Moreover, the reciprocal transfer of my expertise in behavioral neuroscience to the host laboratory and, in turn, my training in cutting-edge technologies in preparation for a position in my home country, is a tremendous opportunity for the diffusion of knowledge within the European Research Area.
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.
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF
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.
Coordinator
1030 Wien
Austria
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.