Objective
The drive for rewards controls almost every aspect of our behavior, from stereotypic reflexive behaviors to complex voluntary action. It is therefore not surprising that the symptoms of neurological disorders that interrupt reward processing, such as those stemming from drug-abuse and depression, include deficits in the capacity to make even simple movements. Accordingly, how do rewards drive and shape movements? The brain uses two major subcortical networks to drive behavior: the basal ganglia and the cerebellum. Both areas are essential for the control of movement as damage to either structure leads to severe motor disabilities. Research on the basal ganglia has highlighted their importance in the control of reward-driven behavior-but how the reward information interacts with sensorimotor signals to drive the motor periphery is unknown. By contrast, research on the cerebellum has focused primarily on how sensory error signals are used to optimize motor commands but has mostly ignored the modulatory factors that influence behavior, such as reward. My goal is to unify research on the basal ganglia and cerebellum in order to understand how the computations underlying the influence of reward on action are implemented in the brain. I hypothesize that rewards drive and shape the motor commands in both subcortical networks, albeit with differing behavioral functions. While in the basal ganglia, information about reward is used to mediate selection between multiple actions; I predict that, in the cerebellum, reward potentiates movements to drive more accurate behavior. I will use the monkey smooth pursuit eye movement system as a powerful model motor system to study the neural mechanisms by which reward influences motor processing. I will combine the use of novel behavioral paradigms together with novel application of neural recording and optogenetic stimulation in primates to probe activity of neurons in the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum.
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.
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-2017-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
91904 JERUSALEM
Israel
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.