Objective The formation of episodic (unique event) memories is based on the interaction between the hippocampus and the cortical regions that receive its output. The major hippocampal output cells are pyramidal cells (PCs) in area CA1. In rodents, populations of CA1 PCs are known to represent a wide range of aspects associated with an episodic memory: Some cells participate in the formation of a map-like representation of space, while others additionally or exclusively encode items within the environment, represent meaningful locations, or participate in the representation of emotional and behavioural contexts. It is not known so far how heterogeneous CA1 firing patterns are organized and affect memory formation. While CA1 PCs have been traditionally considered a homogeneous cell population, we now have clear evidence for the presence of at least two distinct CA1 PC cell types that differ in their local and long-range connectivity, in their morphology, their molecular makeup and their basic firing patterns. This strongly argues for a functional specialization within the CA1 area. However, a link between the heterogeneous representation of mnemonic information and the presence of anatomically distinct PC types remains to be established. In this proposal I aim to determine whether heterogeneous response properties of CA1 PCs are based on computations in distinct anatomical microcircuits in deep and superficial layers by combining optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques with in vivo recordings in behaving mice. Furthermore, I will seek to obtain detailed knowledge about the functional connectivity between different CA1 PC populations and their target areas. Knowledge about the function of individual CA1 microcircuits and their anatomical connections is the prerequisite to subsequently develop an independent research plan aiming to determine how intra-hippocampal processing affects memory formation in their downstream targets. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologyepilepsynatural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologycognitive neurosciencemedical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologydementiaalzheimernatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryalcoholsnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencecomputational intelligence Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2015 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-RI - RI – Reintegration panel Coordinator UNIVERSITATSKLINIKUM HEIDELBERG Net EU contribution € 159 460,80 Address IM NEUENHEIMER FELD 672 69120 Heidelberg Germany See on map Region Baden-Württemberg Karlsruhe Heidelberg, Stadtkreis Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 159 460,80