Project description
Toward a large-scale, implantable, and wireless neuroprosthesis to treat memory deficit
Learning and remembering are fundamental cognitive tasks that enhance a person’s overall quality of life. Deficits impact social interactions, employment and activities of daily living and incur anxiety and depression in many cases. The hippocampus-prefrontal cortex circuit and large-scale oscillations in electrical activity here are essential for learning and memory. The ambitious ERC-funded MEMOPROSTHETICS project plans to create a large-scale neuroprosthesis of the hippocampus-prefrontal cortex circuit to improve learning and memory for patients with deficits. A novel brain implant in non-human primates performing a visuospatial learning task will enable development of specific stimulation protocols. The platform will be converted to a fully implantable and wireless neuroprosthesis.
Objective
Cognitive deficits caused by ageing, neurodegenerative diseases or brain injury represent a major public health issue. They are associated with a disruption of neural oscillations in large-scale brain networks, which cannot be restored using current treatments. Here, I propose a new neuromodulation framework for manipulating neural oscillations across large-scale brain networks to improve learning and memory. Specifically, I will create a large-scale neuroprosthesis of the hippocampus-prefrontal cortex circuit, which will simultaneously record and stimulate electrically key areas of the episodic memory network. I hypothesize that spatially, spectrally and temporally specific stimulation protocols within this network will enhance the functional interactions between hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and will improve learning and memory. This conceptual approach will be evaluated in non-human primates trained on a visuospatial learning task.
First, I will combine an electrocorticographic grid over the prefrontal cortex with depth macroelectrodes in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex to create a novel large-scale brain implant. I will use this device to investigate the neural signatures of successful vs failed trials. Next, I will optimize electrical stimulation protocols that replicate successful neural signatures, and will test whether they improve memory in healthy animals. Third, I will induce temporary cognitive deficits in the animals using a cholinergic antagonist, and will assess the effects of stimulation in this pharmacological model of dementia. Finally, I will evaluate the chronic feasibility of this approach by translating these concepts into a fully implantable and wireless platform suited for future clinical applications. MEMOPROSTHETICS will lead to the development of neuroprostheses that palliate memory deficits in preclinical models of ageing and dementia, and will open new avenues for studying and treating a wide range of cognitive impairments.
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 zoology mammalogy primatology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology dementia
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology implants
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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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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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) ERC-2021-STG
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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.
75794 PARIS
France
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.