Project description
Acetylcholine as a modulator of dendritic spikes in sensory processing
Neuromodulation changes the brain's interpretation of sensory experiences. Understanding the neural circuitry that integrates and processes incoming sensory input to generate a meaningful output is a fundamental question. The neuromodulator acetylcholine enhances sensory responses, and recent studies suggest that the local subthreshold dendritic spikes also play a key role in encoding feature selectivity, the ability of neurons to be tuned to specific features of a stimulus. The EU-funded NeuroSens project is testing the novel hypothesis that acetylcholine modulates sensory processing by regulating dendritic spikes and feature selectivity in the mouse somatosensory cortex. The project will provide new insights into a long-standing question on the mechanisms of neuromodulation of sensory processing.
Objective
Neuromodulation, such as that associated with paying attention, changes the way our brains interpret our sensory experiences. Understanding the neuromodulation of neural circuitry that integrates and processes incoming sensory input to generate a meaningful output remains a fundamental question in neuroscience. While the neuromodulator acetylcholine is shown to enhance sensory responses, the cellular mechanisms by which it mediates these effects are still poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests that the local subthreshold dendritic potentials, dendritic spikes, which are important in synaptic input integration, also play a key role in encoding feature selectivity, the ability of neurons in sensory cortices to be tuned to specific features of a stimulus. Interestingly, ion channels, such as potassium channels that regulate dendritic spikes are also shown to be modulated by cholinergic inputs. Here, I propose that acetylcholine modulates sensory processing via modulation of dendritic spikes. I will use a combination of state-of-the-art in vivo imaging, electrophysiology, pharmacology and optogenetics to test the novel hypothesis that acetylcholine modulates sensory processing by regulating dendritic spikes and thereby feature selectivity in mouse somatosensory cortex. The project will provide new cellular insights into a long-standing question on the mechanisms of neuromodulation of sensory processing. It builds on my expertise in neuroanatomy and physiology and will give me the opportunity to master advanced in vivo techniques in a host environment that is well known for their in vivo expertise and research into neuromodulation. Given my strong background in neurodevelopmental disorders, the project will push the knowledge frontier on neuronal processing and will provide a framework for research into basic mechanisms of sensory perception and their alterations in neurological disorders.
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.
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- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkali metals
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy
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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-2018
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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.
BS8 1QU BRISTOL
United Kingdom
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.