Objective The evolutionary arms race has optimized and shaped the way animals attend to relevant sensory stimuli in an ever-changing environment. This is a complex task, because the vast majority of sensory experiences are not relevant. In humans, attentional disorders are a serious public health concern because of its high prevalence, but its causes are mostly unknown. In this proposal, I will explore the neuronal mechanisms used by the nervous system to attend visual cues to enable appropriate behaviors. We will combine cutting edge imaging techniques, optogenetic interventions, behavioral read outs and targeted connectomics to study the neuronal transformations of the mouse Superior Colliculus (SC), an evolutionary conserved midbrain area known to process sensorimotor transformations and to be involved in the allocation of attention. First, this work will reveal a detailed description of visual representation in the SC, focusing on understanding how defined retinal information-streams, like motion and color, contribute to these properties. Second, we will characterize sensorimotor transformations instructed by the SC. The combination of the previous two objectives will determine mechanisms of visual saliency and sensory driven attention (“bottom-up” attention). Finally, we will explore the neuronal mechanisms of attention by studying the modulatory effect of higher brain areas (“top-down” attention) on sensory transformation and multisensory integration in the SC. Taken together, this proposal aims to understand principles underlying sensorimotor transformation and build a framework to study attention in health and disease. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologysocial sciencesmedia and communicationsgraphic designnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryalkaline earth metalsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopynatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationsvirtual reality Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2017-STG - ERC Starting Grant Call for proposal ERC-2017-STG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-STG - Starting Grant Coordinator INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AUSTRIA Net EU contribution € 1 446 542,00 Address Am campus 1 3400 Klosterneuburg Austria See on map Region Ostösterreich Niederösterreich Wiener Umland/Nordteil Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AUSTRIA Austria Net EU contribution € 1 446 542,00 Address Am campus 1 3400 Klosterneuburg See on map Region Ostösterreich Niederösterreich Wiener Umland/Nordteil Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
