Objective
Evidence has been emerging for astrocytes to play an important role in neuronal cooperation and information processing in the brain. Recent work has suggested that their activity may even regulate the shape of action potentials in the axon and thus the efficacy of synaptic transmission. However, the underlying physiological machinery remains poorly understood. We propose here that astrocytes play an active role in the analogue-digital regulation of presynaptic signalling. To decipher the role of astroglia in presynaptic signalling, in particular analogue-digital axonal information transfer, we focus on the giant mossy-fibre-CA3 synapse, well characterized in the host laboratory. Our working hypothesis is that astrocytes regulate spike generation and propagation in axons by modulating local extracellular potassium and possibly by releasing glutamate. To test this hypothesis, an innovative set of technique will be used: i) direct recordings of astrocytes and either presynaptic or postsynaptic elements of the synapse in the mossy-fibre to CA3 synapse; ii) genetic tools allowing specific targeting and stimulation of either astrocytes or neurons; iii) pioneering imaging tools, such as FLIM, to directly measure the calcium entry and glutamate-sensing fluorescent reporter to reveal glutamate release by the astrocytes. The proposed project should unravel the mechanisms by which astrocytes control axonal information transfer in neural networks axonal excitability while shedding light on poorly understood features of astrocyte physiology.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology cognitive neuroscience
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkali metals
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
- 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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2016
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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.
WC1E 6BT LONDON
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.