Project description DEENESFRITPL Innovative description of the presupplementary motor area Damage of the white matter system connecting the pre-supplementary and supplementary motor areas (SMAs) with frontal cortices and caudate nuclei could harm language and cognition. However, little is known about the exact cognitive mechanisms that are damaged and if specific projections of this network follow a division of labour. This knowledge is extremely important for treating Huntington’s disease (HD). The EU-funded preSMAcog project will develop a multidisciplinary and precise description of the preSMA system using a brain connectivity mapping technique. Neuroanatomical characterisation through structural neuroimaging and laboratory dissections in HD and healthy individuals will unveil the links between preSMA structural properties and cognition. The project will design a sensitive tele-assessment of language and cognition in HD. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective The function of white matter networks of the human brain is a key inquiry of contemporary neuroscience. Initial observations suggest that damage to the white matter system connecting the pre-supplementary and supplementary motor areas ((pre)SMA) with frontal cortices and caudate nuclei may impair both language and cognition. However, it is unclear which exact cognitive mechanisms are compromised and if specific projections of this network obey to a division of labor. Providing this knowledge is of the utmost importance for a variety of neurological populations, but especially for Huntington´s Disease (HD) - a rare genetic disease that represents a neurodegeneration model, with alterations in both (pre)SMA system and language/cognitive difficulties. PreSMAcog proposes a multidisciplinary, precise description of the (pre)SMA system. To achieve this, I will (1) provide a neuroanatomical characterization of the system using structural neuroimaging techniques (diffusion tensor imaging) and laboratory dissections in both HD and healthy individuals, (2) explore the links between structural properties of the (pre)SMA system and cognition and (3) design a sensitive tele-assessment of language and cognition in HD. I will conduct this research in Barcelona joining a team of ultimate experts in neuroimaging and language/cognitive neuroscience with long-standing experience in HD research. Furthermore, I will implement, for the first time in HD, an innovative brain connectivity mapping technique supervised by its pioneer (secondment in Oxford). PreSMAcog will enhance my current expertise leading me towards independence in multidisciplinary neuroscience research and academic leadership. The synergy between four major disciplines of neuroscience (neuroanatomy, language/cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging, and neuropsychology) and between two excellent academic centers will allow to precisely describe the (pre)SMA system and to understand its role in cognition in health and HD. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologycognitive neuroscience Keywords Neuroanatomy Cognitive Control Huntington´s Disease Tele-neurology Supplementary Motor Area Pre-supplementary motor area Brain White Matter Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2020 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2020 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA Net EU contribution € 172 932,48 Address GRAN VIA DE LES CORTS CATALANES 585 08007 Barcelona Spain See on map Region Este Cataluña Barcelona Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 172 932,48
