Objective
The aim of this project is to study the influence of sleep in the establishment of aversive memory and to propose a proof of concept for the use of brain-computer interfaces during sleep to treat pathologies associated with fear or anxiety such as post-traumatic stress disorders.
It is now accepted that sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation processes that allow the conversion of newly encoded memory traces into more stable information. Numerous studies have shown that some of the positive effect of sleep on consolidation relies on the reactivations of previous experiences.
We recently showed that spontaneous sleep reactivations can be used to create an artificial memory during sleep. We made electrical stimulations of a brain reward center contingent on the spontaneous reactivations of a hippocampal place cell during sleep. After this procedure, mice developed a place preference for the location of the place field of the trigger cell, showing that a place/reward association had been created. Our experiment, as most of the studies on place cells or reactivations, was done with appetitive learning and we now intend to tackle this issue in the context of aversive learning.
In this project, we will use our closed-loop device to address long lasting controversies such as the existence of reactivations in deep SWS or REM sleep. We will also investigate how avoided places are represented in the hippocampus and whether they are more reactivated during subsequent sleep. Additionally, we will show whether aversive-related wake preplays can be actively modulated, suggesting that “intrusive memories” or rumination can be addressed in animal models.
Finally, we will test whether an aversive association performed during wake can be modified by our closed-loop-driven appetitive association during sleep. This would bring the proof of concept that sleep could be used to erase aversive memories in pathological situations such as post-traumatic stress disorders.
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.
- social sciences psychology psychotherapy psychoanalysis
- engineering and technology medical engineering medical laboratory technology diagnostic technologies
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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-COG - Consolidator 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-COG
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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.
75794 PARIS
France
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.