Project description
Insight into memory consolidation
Conversion of events into long-lasting memory, a process known as memory consolidation, implicates many regions of the brain. Recent evidence indicates that an interplay between the laterodorsal (LD) nucleus of the thalamus and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is central to memory consolidation. Scientists of the EU-funded METHA project plan to investigate the LD-ACC circuit and in particular how neurons in these regions process acquired information during the training to consolidate and recall them at a later time. Results will provide a better understanding of memory and related pathologies such as post-traumatic stress disorder and dementia.
Objective
Memory consolidation is the process by which memories are converted into a long-lasting form allowing its recall later in time. It has been shown that memory consolidation is supported by the coordinated activation of a network of brain regions. In this regard, the hippocampus-cortical communication has been largely studied. Recent evidences point to the thalamus as a key region mediating this dialogue. In particular, the Laterodorsal Nucleus of the Thalamus (LD) activity has been shown to be essential for remote memory recall. Moreover, the LD shows high anatomical and functional connectivity with the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) which is a key structure for consolidation and remote memory recall. These data suggest that this LD-ACC pathway may be crucial during memory consolidation. The LD is known to harbor Head Direction (HD) cells which are neurons that fire to specific orientations of the animal head. Therefore, we hypothesized that the activity of the LD-ACC circuit represents spatial information that is required for recall of contextual fear memory. The present project was designed to test this hypothesis using a multi-level approach, that is unique in the field. First, we will address the causal role of the LD-ACC pathway in the recall of fear memory, by modulating its activity using optogenetics. Then we will investigate how LD cells, and LD-ACC projecting cells, are processing acquired information during the training to consolidate and recall them at a remote time point by directly visualizing the activity of the LD during acquisition and recall of contextual conditioned fear. The expected results will have a significant impact in the memory and in the spatial navigation field, and are of key importance to better understand memory and related pathologies such as post-traumatic stress disorder and dementia.
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 clinical medicine psychiatry posttraumatic stress disorder
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology dementia
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
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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-EF-ST - Standard EF
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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.
75231 Paris
France
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.