Project description
Plasticity of the visual system
Adult brains are endowed with neuroplasticity, which is the ability to modify, change and adapt both structure and function throughout life. However, the key events in space and time that trigger neurons to rewire, for example during learning or after injury, remain unknown. The EU-funded PlastiMap project will focus on the visual pathway as a model system for neuronal plasticity. Researchers will map how the underlying neural circuitry is reorganised following visual stimulation or after damage. Results will provide fundamental mechanistic insight into the adaptation of the visual pathway, opening new possibilities for restorative and rehabilitation treatments.
Objective
Whether and how adult brains retain the ability to adapt their function and structure, especially in the context of learning, injury or restorative treatment is a fundamental question in neuroscience. In particular, understanding how neurons rewire or adapt during plasticity has been limited to (i) local electrophysiological measurements that lack the ability to report on brainwide aspects of plasticity, (ii) terminal experiments preventing longitudinal exploration in the same animal, or (iii) brainwide functional imaging with little insight into the underlying neural activity. Therefore, despite the scientific and clinical relevance of deciphering the neural substrate of neuroplasticity, a mechanistic, brain-wide study bridging the multiple spatiotemporal scales required for understanding neuroplasticity, is still lacking. We here propose to combine cutting edge functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging with calcium recordings in an animal model of visual pathway plasticity. First, we will use this exceptional multi-modal system to investigate the neurovascular coupling during visual stimulation and at-rest. Second, we will apply advanced computational neural models to characterize the functional organization of receptive fields and underlying circuitry across the rodent visual pathway and cortical layers. Third, we aim to map the time-course of functional reorganization and restructuring of neural circuitry following damage to the visual system. To do so, we will induce localized monocular retinal lesions and quantify changes in cortical organization and micro-circuitry resulting from the damage under differential visual experience (dark/ light exposure). This project will provide the first mechanistic description of adaptive circuitry processes and retinotopic (re)organization of the entire visual pathway associated with experience-dependent plasticity. Clinically, this is critical to assess the optimal timing for visual restorative and rehabilitation treatments.
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
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine physiotherapy
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
- engineering and technology medical engineering diagnostic imaging magnetic resonance imaging
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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.
1400-038 LISBOA
Portugal
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.