Project description
Role of cerebellar inputs in high-order neurodevelopmental disorders
Cerebellar abnormalities have been reported in autism spectrum disorder patients. Still, the mechanisms by which the cerebellum could control the maturation and functionality of cortical high-order structures involved in autism remains unknown. Recent data demonstrated that the thalamus' role is critical for cortical area reorganisation after early sensory deprivation. Abnormal cerebellar inputs to the thalamus may contribute to cortical dysfunctions during early development, leading to high-order deficits. The EU-funded project UNCERTHAIN aims to establish how the cerebellum governs the development of cortical areas responsible for social and cognitive behaviours and its involvement in high-order neurodevelopmental disorders. It will adopt multidisciplinary and innovative approaches to analyse the thalamocortical network in the presence of disrupted cerebellar inputs.
Objective
Cerebellar abnormalities are consistently reported in autism spectrum disorder patients, however the cerebellar contribution in the etiology of this pathophysiology remains poorly understood.
It has been proposed that the cerebellum may drive the maturation and functionality of cortical high-order structures involved in the core symptoms of autism. However, the mechanisms by which the cerebellum could control these processes remain to be determined.
The neural circuits linking cerebellum with the cerebral cortex via thalamic relay stations are the anatomical scaffolds underlying the cerebellar cognition. Recent data have shown that the thalamus plays a key role in the reorganization of cortical areas after early sensory deprivation. Therefore, during early development, abnormal cerebellar inputs to the thalamus may contribute to cortical dysfunctions that could lead in high-order deficits. However, despite being autism a neurodevelopmental disorder, any study has addressed the analysis of cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuits from a developmental perspective.
The present project (UNCERTHAIN) offers an exceptional opportunity to shed light onto this issue as a result of the unique combination of approaches. Accordingly, we will use an experimental model that offers the possibility to embryonically alter the cerebellothalamic connectivity and thus, study the mechanisms underlying the events that influence the normal development and functioning of cortical circuits. Hence, we will adopt both multidisciplinary and innovative approaches to characterize the thalamocortical network in presence of a disrupted cerebellar input, the functional consequences and its relationship with autistic-like behaviors.
The successful execution of this high-risk, high-impact research will provide insights on how the cerebellum governs the development of cortical areas essential for social and cognitive behaviors and its involvement in high-order neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology pathophysiology
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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)
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 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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-2018
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28006 Madrid
Spain
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.