Project description
Exploring the enigmatic gateway of the 'little brain'
The nervous system is highly organised both structurally and functionally. The cerebellum, one of the three components of the brain along with the cerebrum and brainstem, is considered as the crucial structure that mediates movement, posture and balance. Recently, growing evidence also supports a cerebellar role in cognitive processing, among other things. As the sole output channel of the cerebellum, the cerebellar nuclei form a final integrative processing unit before signals are transmitted to brainstem and cerebrum. Despite their critical role, surprisingly little is known about the structural and functional organization of cerebellar nuclei. CN Identity is studying the circuitry and downstream effects via behavioural tasks, electrophysiological recordings, and optogenetic perturbation. Outcomes should fill gaps in our knowledge about the critical role of the cerebellar outputs on sensorimotor and cognitive functions.
Objective
How does the brain integrate diverse sensory inputs and generate appropriate motor commands? Our cerebellum is a key region for such a sensorimotor processing, empowered by its sophisticated neural computation and constant communication with other brain regions. The well-timed cerebellar information is integrated and funneled to other brain regions through the cerebellar nuclei (CN). Yet, how CN circuitry contributes to the cerebellar control of sensorimotor processing is unclear. My recent work indicates that the CN activity serves various functions ranging from the online motor control, the amplitude amplification of cerebellar outputs to the control of motor planning. Given these advances, I am now in a unique position to decipher the properties of CN neurons and identify their specific roles in different forms of sensorimotor processing. It is my central hypothesis that depending on the specific demands of the task, CN neurons can either facilitate or suppress the activity of downstream regions with millisecond precision; and the anatomical, genetic and functional properties of CN neurons are tailored to the particular task involved. To test this hypothesis, I will 1) identify the activity patterns of different CN modules during the acquisition and execution of two sensorimotor tasks and characterize the relevant extra-cerebellar inputs to these modules; 2) identify the connectivity-transcription logic of different CN modules and link them to their task-specific outputs; and 3) examine the impacts of manipulating anatomically and/or genetically defined CN neurons on the downstream regions during different sensorimotor tasks. I will accomplish these key objectives by developing various novel electrophysiological, optogenetic, molecular and imaging techniques. My research is likely to break new ground, demonstrating that the identity of CN neurons is determined by their differential temporal demands of sensorimotor tasks controlled by different brain structures.
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.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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
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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
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2019-STG
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3015 GD Rotterdam
Netherlands
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