Objective
This project will use state-of-the-art electrophysiology in freely-behaving rats to record simultaneously from networks of multiple single neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the midbrain during maze-based cognitive tasks. Hippocampal (HPC) and prefrontal cortical (PFC) activities are coupled in the 4-12 Hz theta frequency range.
When selectively enhanced, this coupling allows the PFC to direct behaviour appropriately by integrating spatial information from the HPC into a broader, decision-making network. Thus coordination of theta rhythms constitutes a mechanism through which the relative timing of disparate neural activities can be synchronized.
This project's central hypothesis is that dopaminergic projections from VTA to both HPC and PFC mediate or modulate this rhythmic coordination according to reward-related parameters encoded in the VTA during cognition. Dysfunctional dopaminergic neurotransmission, neural synchrony and working memory are all implicated in schizophrenia. Recordings will therefore be used to detail the nature of VTA activity in rat models of schizophrenia.
Future work will combine simultaneous recordings from VTA, HPC and PFC with pharmacological and genetic manipulations made using lentiviral vectors, addressing both fundamental mechanisms of brain function and the neural basis of psychiatric disorders. Through this work, Dr. Matthew Jones will continue to establish his independent research program in the EU, having learned and applied the latest tetrode recording techniques and analyses in the US.
His neuro-scientific interests and experience, research environment at the University of Bristol and growing network of UK, EU and US collaborators are all absolutely aligned with the FP6 bid to study 'Cortical information processing' and 'Schizophrenia: from genotype to phenotype'. This project thereby epitomizes the intentions of this Action in stemming the flow of researchers away from the EU.
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.
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology genetic engineering
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine psychiatry schizophrenia
- natural sciences computer and information sciences data science data processing
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence computational intelligence
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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.
Topic(s)
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.
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.
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.
FP6-2004-MOBILITY-12
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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.
Coordinator
BRISTOL
United Kingdom
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.