Objectif The mammalian brain is assembled from thousands of neuronal cell types that are organized into distinct circuits to perform behaviourally relevant computations. To gain mechanistic insights about brain function and to treat specific diseases of the nervous system it is crucial to understand what these local circuits are computing and how they achieve these computations. By examining the structure and function of a few genetically identified and experimentally accessible neural circuits we plan to address fundamental questions about the functional architecture of neural circuits. First, are cell types assigned to a unique functional circuit with a well-defined function or do they participate in multiple circuits (multitasking cell types), adjusting their role depending on the state of these circuits? Second, does a neural circuit perform a single computation or depending on the information content of its inputs can it carry out radically different functions? Third, how, among the large number of other cell types, do the cells belonging to the same functional circuit connect together during development? We use the mouse retina as a model system to address these questions. Finally, we will study the structure and function of a specialised neural circuit in the human fovea that enables humans to read. We predict that our insights into the mechanism of multitasking, network switches and the development of selective connectivity will be instructive to study similar phenomena in other brain circuits. Knowledge of the structure and function of the human fovea will open up new opportunities to correlate human retinal function with human visual behaviour and our genetic technologies to study human foveal function will allow us and others to design better strategies for restoring vision for the blind. Champ scientifique natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineophthalmology Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Thème(s) ERC-SG-LS5 - ERC Starting Grant - Neurosciences and neural disorders Appel à propositions ERC-2010-StG_20091118 Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Institution d’accueil FRIEDRICH MIESCHER INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH FONDATION Contribution de l’UE € 1 499 000,00 Adresse MAULBEERSTRASSE 66 4058 Basel Suisse Voir sur la carte Région Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Nordwestschweiz Basel-Stadt Type d’activité Research Organisations Contact administratif Searles Dorothy (Mrs.) Chercheur principal Botond Roska (Dr.) Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée Bénéficiaires (2) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire FRIEDRICH MIESCHER INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH FONDATION Suisse Contribution de l’UE € 1 499 000,00 Adresse MAULBEERSTRASSE 66 4058 Basel Voir sur la carte Région Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Nordwestschweiz Basel-Stadt Type d’activité Research Organisations Contact administratif Searles Dorothy (Mrs.) Chercheur principal Botond Roska (Dr.) Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée Novartis Forschungsstiftung Suisse Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Maulbeerstrasse 66 4058 BASEL Voir sur la carte Type d’activité Research Organisations Contact administratif Dorothy Searles (Mrs.) Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée
