Objective
Behavioral unit recordings of rats exploring an open field have shown that medial entorhinal cortex (mEC) neurons have spatially specific firing fields that repeat at regular intervals. Called ‘grid cells’, the field size and spacing of firing activity changes along the dorsal-ventral axis of mEC. In vitro recordings of the same cell population has shown dorsal-ventral changes in the intrinsic properties of the cells; subthreshold oscillation frequency and the time constant of the hyperpolarization activated cation current I(h), which correlate with the dorsal-ventral change in grid cell firing activity. Recent research demonstrating that the subunit composition (HCN1, HCN2) can effect the temporal kinetics of I(h) provides a molecular target for investigating how single cell kinetics contribute to spatial memory. In vivo over-expression or knockdown used to modulate the ratio of subunits with faster (HCN1) or slower (HCN2) I(h) kinetics should result in a change in the spatial periodicity of grid cells in mEC. A higher proportion of subunits with fast kinetics should result in grid cells with smaller field size and spacing, while a higher proportion of subunits with slow kinetics should result in the opposite. Examination of the kinetics in HCN1 knockout mice will complement findings using viral technology. While research has shown a clear correlation between intrinsic cellular property changes and grid cell field size changes, no experimental evidence yet indicates a causal relationship between the two sets of data. Manipulation of the kinetics of I(h) will test the hypothesis that single cell kinetics contribute to spatial memory at the network level.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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-IIF-2008
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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.
Coordinator
7491 Trondheim
Norway
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.