Project description
Mechanistic insight into how our brain learns
Survival and adaptation to a changing environment is driven by the ability of animals and humans to utilise prior knowledge to quickly learn new behaviours. However, the mechanism by which the brain combines old information with new input remains elusive. The EU-funded Learning2Learn project aims to elucidate the role of the medial prefrontal cortex of the brain in continual learning and adaptation to new situations. The proposed mechanism is inspired by a theoretical machine-learning framework for artificial neural networks and will be investigated by combining cutting-edge experimental techniques to unveil the brain's learning mechanism.
Objective
In a changing environment the ability to continually and rapidly learn new behaviors is crucial for humans and animals to survive. How the brain stores and integrates new information without forgetting (continual learning, CL) and utilizes prior knowledge to quickly adapt to new situations (fast forward generalization, FFG) remains a mystery. To shed light on this crucial question I propose a novel interdisciplinary approach that derives inspiration from a theoretical machine-learning approach for artificial neural networks (ANN) and simultaneously addresses FFG and CL. In this dual-network model, a so-called meta-network learns to identify the context for all previous tasks and modulates a second, stimulus-processing network, in a task/context specific manner to efficiently solve the task. As a result, similar task contexts elicit the selection of similar stimulus processing networks thereby enabling FFG. In the brain, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is known to receive contextual information (environment, setting), to store task information and to project to sensory areas. This makes it a promising candidate to function as a meta-network in the brain. In the proposed study, I will investigate if and how the mPFC affects sensory processing in a task-specific manner during CL and FFG, functioning as a meta-network. I will utilize cutting-edge experimental techniques including miniaturized microscopes in freely behaving mice to record neuronal populations in mPFC during FFG and CL combined with chemo- and optogenetic tools. To investigate how mPFC affects stimulus processing on the single neuron level, I will combine calcium and voltage imaging in brain slices. This interdisciplinary project will provide novel insights into the possible implementation of meta-learning in the brain to address CL and FFG. Completion of this innovative project in the multidisciplinary environment of my host lab will provide me with the ideal setting to reach scientific independence.
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 cognitive neuroscience
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence computational intelligence
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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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
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.