Project description
Signalling controlling forelimb movement
Behavior is orchestrated within distributed circuits and constructed by piecing together different movements. The brainstem contains specialized neuronal populations dedicated to the control of specific actions, including skilled forelimb movements and locomotion. It receives inputs from the substantia nigra reticulata (SNR), a major output of the basal ganglia. However, it remains poorly understood how the brainstem processes these inputs to start actions. Thus, the SNR-brainstem system is ideal for understanding the mechanisms underlying behavior initiation and control. The EU-funded StartAct project will investigate the impact of SNR signaling on the activity of specific brainstem neurons when a mouse initiates forelimb movements. It will elucidate the architecture of SNR to brainstem connections and how it supports the forelimb movement, opening new horizons in the treatment of diseases characterized by impairment in self-initiated actions.
Objective
Behavior arises through the combination of movements within distributed circuits. Most work in the past focused on high motor centers and executive circuits in the spinal cord, but how these systems are linked in order to function is poorly understood.
The substantia nigra reticulata (SNR), a basal ganglia output, sends projections to the brainstem. Yet how the brainstem processes these inputs to control actions remains unknown. The Arber lab discovered that the parvocellular reticular formation (PCRt) of the mouse brainstem harbors neurons controlling forelimb behaviors including reaching. PCRt neurons receive inhibitory inputs from the SNR. Thus, the SNR-PCRt circuit is an excellent stepping stone for understanding the mechanisms behind self-initiated actions.
I propose to investigate the impact of the SNR signaling on the activity of PCRt neurons when a mouse self-initiates forelimb reaching. I will characterize the anatomy and nature of SNR to PCRt connections to understand whether and how this architecture supports forelimb movement. I will combine a behavioral task designed to isolate the neuronal events around the triggering of a self-initiated action with loss- and gain of function perturbations to unravel the building blocks of self-initiated actions. Finally, I will use the task while monitoring the activity of specific SNR and PCRt neurons to understand how the different actors physically implement the operations for self-initiated actions.
Together, my experiments will disclose the fine-scale machinery for initiating and controlling an action. This level of understanding is key for designing new therapies to help people impaired in self- initiating actions such in Parkinson’s disease. The fellowship will provide me with the unique opportunity to expand my expertise and establish the foundations of my future career as an independent group leader.
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.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine anatomy and morphology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology parkinson
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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-2019
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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.
4056 BASEL
Switzerland
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.