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Characterization of the spatial and mnemonic functions of the hippocampus in the non-human primate

Ziel

Spatial memory is the memory system that allows an individual to answer questions such as: Where am I? Where is it and How do I get there? Hippocampus is critical for spatial memory as its lesion induces profound deficits in spatial learning in human, non-human primates and rats. In the rat, electrophysiological studies show that a large proportion of hippocampal neurons, called place cells, signal the animals' position in the environment. Place cells are thought to constitute the neuronal basis of spatial memory, although only few studies attempted to test this hypothesis directly. In the primate, the lack of studies does not clearly allow to determine how spatial representations are encoded in the hippocampus at the neuronal level.

This project aims to bring further our knowledge on the neuronal basis of memory using the closest experimental model to human. I propose a neurophysiological and behavioural approach featuring a virtual reality environment adapted to the monkey that allows studying single cell activity directly as animals form new spatial memories.

Specifically this projects aims at addressing 3 questions:
1) How is spatial information represented in the primate hippocampus?
2) What is the link between the activity of place cells and memory formation,
3) What are the physiological and functional properties of hippocampal cells in the primate?

To address these questions, I will record the activity of hippocampal neurons as animals navigate in the virtual environment with or without memory demand. In parallel, I will use physiological criteria to characterize the hippocampal neurons and evaluate their functional properties with respect to the task demands. This type of information is critical as to build realistic models of hippocampus that take in account physiological and functional properties of the cells. In the long-term this project will allow to better understanding how hippocampal neurons underlie the formation of new spatial memories.

Wissenschaftliches Gebiet (EuroSciVoc)

Thema/Themen

Aufforderung zur Vorschlagseinreichung

FP6-2004-MOBILITY-12
Andere Projekte für diesen Aufruf anzeigen

Finanzierungsplan

IRG - Marie Curie actions-International re-integration grants

Koordinator

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
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