Project description
Charting the mechanisms of memory formation in cortical networks
In theory, learning and memory formation are the result of changes in connectivity patterns among neural networks within the brain. Causal connectivity – how neurons instrumentally influence one another’s activity – plays a key role in these processes. However, at a cellular level, the neural mechanisms and patterns of causal interaction in the living brain are not well understood. The ERC-funded LearningNetworks project aims to explore how causal connectivity among neurons and across cortical regions changes over time during the learning of goal-directed behaviour in mice. It will leverage novel optical methods to extensively chart causal connectivity and neural activity at cell resolution in vivo, resulting in a basis for understanding complex neural behaviours that rely on short-term memory.
Objective
A central hypothesis in neuroscience is that changes in connectivity patterns between neurons support learning and memory formation. Most methods for examining connectivity between individual neurons rely on ex vivo experiments (e.g. in brain slices). However, in vivo measurements are required to study how neurons causally influence each other's activity ('causal connectivity') in the living brain, and how these causal interactions change over time. Thus, while brain networks are among the most studied biological networks, the cellular-level patterns and dynamics of causal connectivity in vivo remain unknown. Here, I propose to study how causal connectivity between individual neurons and across entire brain areas changes over time during learning of memory-guided behaviors. To this end, we will use novel causal optical methods to longitudinally map causal connectivity and neural activity at cell resolution in vivo, focusing on the motor cortex and related areas. We will combine these methods with a novel goal-directed behavior in mice that does not require pretraining, which will serve as a baseline to study learning mechanisms of more complex behaviors that rely on short-term memory. Specifically, we will map changes in causal connectivity during learning within the motor cortex (Aim 1) and across cortical areas (Aim 2) and relate it to the computational functions of the network. We will also perturb neurons based on their connectivity and coding properties to identify changes in network mechanisms for short-term memory and action selection at various learning stages (Aim 3). Finally, we will work towards identifying constraints on memory formation via optogenetic induction of artificial connectivity patterns. Taken together, this research will enable for the first time to causally study dynamics in network interactions across time on different spatial scales, and to test fundamental mechanisms of memory formation and representation in cortical networks.
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.
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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)
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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.
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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
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-STG
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69978 Tel Aviv
Israel
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