Project description
An integrated platform for AI-assisted study of neuronal circuits
Neuroscience studies individual neuronal functionality and neuronal networks. The EU-funded ISLAND project aims to provide an integrated experimental platform to assist in the study of the structure and the function of neuronal networks. Optogenetics is a biological technique involving the use of light to control genetically modified cells, in this case neurons, expressing light-sensitive ion channels. It is a neuromodulation method that allows control of the activities of the individual neurons in living tissues. The project proposes an optogenetic tool for in-vitro experiments, with feedback from electrophysiological signals from the network, to address specific neuronal circuits. The control system will involve deep-learning techniques to localise the stimulation at specific neurons. As a benchmark, the problem of memory formation in small neuronal network will be studied.
Objective
The study of the brain remains one of the most challenging topics in science. A full understanding of the neuronal dynamics inside a living brain is still far from being achieved. Neuroscience tackles this problem by studying the neuronal functionality as individuals and in networks. For this purpose, different disciplines and approaches are used, e.g. electrophysiology, biochemistry, optogenetics and more. In this project I aim to provide an integrated experimental platform, which will assist in the study of the structure and the functionality of neuronal networks. The setup proposed in this project will serve as an optogenetic tool for in-vitro experiments, controlled by a feedback from electrophysiological signals from the network to address specific neuronal circuits. The control system will be trained by Deep-Learning techniques to localize the stimulation at specific neurons of interest.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
38122 Trento
Italy