Project description
The role of astrocytes in learning and decision-making
Learning from feedback is essential for organisms to adapt and refine their behaviours. A critical part of this process involves the release of norepinephrine (NE) from the brain’s locus coeruleus, which helps improve future actions following a reward prediction error. However, how the short bursts of NE activity shape behaviour seconds later remains unclear. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the AstroError project seeks to solve this puzzle by investigating a new role for astrocytes, supporting the amplification of NE signals. By combining computational models with neural and astrocytic recordings, the project will explore how these interactions enhance reinforcement learning and could inspire more advanced algorithms that incorporate both neurons and astrocytes for better decision-making processes.
Objective
Updating behavior based on environmental feedback is essential for organisms to learn and develop optimal behavioral strategies. Norepinephrine (NE) release from the locus coeruleus (LC) has been recently shown to critically mediate reinforcement learning (RL), such that a high level of NE released after a reward prediction error (RPE) improves subsequent behavior. However, the mechanism by which transient LC-NE neuron activity (lasting 50-300 ms) influences behavior several seconds later remains unclear.
Building on experimental findings in the Outgoing Phase supervisors laboratory, we hypothesize that astrocytes play a previously unreported role in RL: they temporally amplify specific NE-RPE signals, facilitating the exploitation of neuronal sensory information when it is needed to optimize subsequent behavior. We will now probe the theoretical advantages of the novel NE-astrocyte RL mechanism by combining advanced computational analysis and modeling of rich neuronal and astrocytic cortical population recordings during RL.
We will investigate computationally and theoretically the role of NE and astrocytes in modulating neuronal population dynamics supporting post-reinforcement behavioral gain. We will use data sets available in the Outgoing Phase supervisors laboratory to address three main scientific questions: 1) How do NE-RPE signals affect the future encoding of task-relevant information in neuronal populations? 2) How do in vivo neuro-astrocytic interactions support cross-population information processing critical for RL? 3) What is the role of NE-astrocytic signaling in RL - how is it biophysically supported, and implemented in novel RL algorithms and recurrent astrocyte-neuron networks (RANNs)?
Altogether, I expect this proposal to be transformative in advancing our understanding of learning mechanisms in biological systems, and that they will potentially inform new algorithms for RL based not only on networks of neurons but also including astrocytes.
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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
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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-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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20251 Hamburg
Germany
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