Functional exploration of the contributions of brainstem-motor thalamic pathways to motor execution and learning

Información del proyecto

MoThal

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: 749527

DOI

10.3030/749527

Proyecto finalizado el 6 Julio 2018

Fecha de la firma de la CE 11 Octubre 2017

Fecha de inicio 1 Enero 2018

Fecha de finalización 31 Diciembre 2019

Financiado con arreglo a

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Coste total

€ 175 419,60

Aportación de la UE

€ 175 419,60

Coordinado por

FRIEDRICH MIESCHER INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH FONDATION
Switzerland

Objetivo

Motor learning is a fundamental process enabling an organism to improve movement efficiency during a motor task. It is supported by motor cortex, which organizes movements into complex sequences. Yet, how this structure is informed of planned and generated actions is poorly understood. Anatomically, motor cortex is highly interconnected with the motor thalamus (Mthal). Interestingly, this structure is involved during the acquisition of different motor tasks, but also shows homologous roles in motor function to brainstem areas. In line with these observations, we hypothesize that pathways between the brainstem to Mthal represent an interesting and unexplored way for motor information to reach cortical areas during motor learning.
This project aims at exploring the anatomical organization and functional importance of brainstem-Mthal pathways in motor learning and transmission to the cortex. It will first explore the bidirectional synaptic organization of these pathways according to neuronal subpopulation identity using mouse genetics and viral tools for anatomy. In a second step, it will explore the hypothesis of a specific role of the different brainstem-Mthal pathways in motor learning, including dexterous vs sequential motor learning tasks. The involvement of the observed pathways in these tasks will be explored with in-vivo calcium imaging. This will allow us to determine whether changes in neuronal activity of brainstem-Mthal projection neurons are correlated with ongoing motor behavior and with which phases. Finally, these results will be probed for functionality by direct manipulation of these circuits in behaving mice. To this end, opto- and pharmacogenetic tools will be used in combination with viral technology to target and manipulate the characterized neuronal networks in mice performing motor learning tasks. Together, the results obtained through this project will lead to a better understanding of circuits involved in motor program execution and learning.

Ámbito científico (EuroSciVoc)

• ingeniería y tecnología › ingeniería de materiales › fibras
• ciencias naturales › ciencias biológicas › genética
• ciencias médicas y de la salud › medicina básica › anatomía y morfología
• ciencias naturales › ciencias biológicas › microbiología › virología
• ciencias naturales › ciencias químicas › química inorgánica › metales alcalinotérreos

Palabras clave

• Motor learning
• Brainstem Motor-thalamus pathways
• Transgenic mice
• Functional anatomy
• Circuit manipulation

Programa(s)

• H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions PROGRAMA PRINCIPAL
  
• H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
  

Tema(s)

• MSCA-IF-2016 - Individual Fellowships
  

Régimen de financiación

MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

Convocatoria de propuestas

H2020-MSCA-IF-2016

Coordinador

FRIEDRICH MIESCHER INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH FONDATION

• Aportación neta de la UEn: € 175 419,60
• Dirección: FABRIKSTRASSE 2 ; 4056 BASEL ; Suiza
• Región: Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera › Nordwestschweiz › Basel-Stadt
• Tipo de actividad: Research Organisations
• Coste total: € 175 419,60