Objective
Spatial navigation is a fundamental ability for animals to survive in a geometric space. A prominent feature of rats is their ability to create an internal metric space, or a map, in their brain. While place cells in the hippocampus are considered key elements of the spatial representation system, the activity of these cells primarily depends on the animal’s instantaneous position; thus it is not clear how the brain computes an estimate of future positions, necessary for route planning. Although several ideas have been proposed to extract future representations from place cells, how such information is used in downstream brain structures is still largely unknown. I thus propose to clarify the roles of the hippocampus in the larger context of brain circuits for route planning. A growing body of evidence indicates key roles for the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) in navigation. I hypothesize that RSC, downstream of hippocampal area CA1, may represent the animal’s future position by making use of information from place cells about positions and movements. The future positions may then be evaluated in mPFC, a downstream target of RSC and CA1, which potentially represents the spatial proximity to the goal. I will clarify the key circuit dynamics during route decisions among these structures together with the hippocampus. As route planning requires information about positional relationships in the environment, I will also investigate a role for brief trajectory sequences generated by place cells, or replay, for transferring such information from the hippocampus to RSC. Simultaneous high-density recordings from multiple regions as well as optogenetic silencing of specific projections are all available in freely behaving rats, and extensive use of computational methods will help decipher the codes in navigation circuits. The studies will provide key insights into how internal models in the brain influence cognition and behaviour.
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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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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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
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.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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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.
(opens in new window) ERC-2016-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
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.