Objective
Experience-dependent plasticity is general to the mammalian neocortex after sensory deprivations. Anyway, the precise synaptic and cellular mechanisms underlying map cortical plasticity in vivo are not known, with particular reference to potentiation of responses to spared pathways. The possibility has been raised that modifications of horizontal connections linking different cortical columns play a crucial role.
The barrel cortex of developing rats will be used as a model system to test the hypothesis that modifications of horizontal connections in supragranular layers underlie the plasticity of receptive fields (RFs) observed after whisker deprivation. Animals will be subjected to two different deprivation protocols and, after one week, in vivo patch clamp recordings will be targeted to spared and deprived columns through concurrent voltage sensitive dye imaging. Reconstruction of layer 2/3 recorded neurons, and two-photon imaging of GFP-labelled horizontal connections in separate animals, will be made to see whether RF plasticity is accompanied by structural modifications of axonal connections of layer 2/3 pyramids in vivo.
Molecular targeting studies (through osmotic minipump implantation in the vicinity of the barrel cortex) will be made to explore the r ole of specific attractants (Netrins, TrkB ligands) and repellents (Semaphorins, Nogo, A-type Ephrins) axon guidance molecules in this phenomenon. The attainable results will describe a precise synaptic mechanism underlying experience-dependent plasticity in the mammalian brain, using in vivo techniques with cellular resolution. Moreover, the results of the molecular targeting experiments will clarify key molecular mediators of this phenomenon and will show a causal relationship between anatomical modifications of horizontal connections of layer 2/3 pyramids and the electrophysiologically documented RFs modifications.
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.
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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)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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.
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.
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5
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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.
Coordinator
MÜNCHEN
Germany
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.