Project description
Listening to how we learn
Any auditory experience can be considered a learning process since it shapes the nervous system. Studies suggest higher-order brain areas’ feedbacks onto primary sensory cortices modulate primary sensory circuits. The EU-funded AudiLearn project will investigate how higher-order brain areas influence auditory learning. The working hypothesis is that long-range modulation of auditory cortex neurons is reinforced during learning in order to increase their response accuracy. For instance, it will use in vivo electrophysiological recordings of neuronal activity in the auditory cortex and optogenetics during an auditory discrimination task in mice. This will help identify neuronal subpopulations of the primary auditory cortex that present changes of activity with learning. The findings will increase our understanding of the learning processes that occur in sensory cortices.
Objective
Interpretation of external stimuli is essential for us to interact properly with our environment. In this context, sound is a major sensory information that takes part in social interaction but also alerts of dangers. Auditory stimuli are integrated by stereotyped neuronal circuits where inhibitory neurons play a key regulatory role. These circuits can be modulated for example by learning which allow a better reaction in sensory-guided behaviors. It has been recently suggested that higher-order brain areas feedbacks onto primary sensory cortices are essential in these learning processes as they modulate primary sensory circuits. Yet, less is known about long-range circuits involved in learning processes which allows the animal to respond more precisely to auditory stimuli.
The objectif of AudiLearn is to disentangle how higher-order brain areas influence auditory learning. My working hypothesis is that long-range modulation of auditory cortex neurons is reinforced during learning in order to increase their response accuracy. Therefore, AudiLearn aims at (i) identifying neuronal subpopulations of the primary auditory cortex that present changes of activity with learning using in-vivo electrophysiological recordings of neuronal activity in the auditory cortex and optogenetics during an auditory discrimination task in mice, (ii) detect long-range projections onto these neurons using rabies-virus based monosynaptic retrograde tracing and finally (iii) modulate these long-range presynaptic neurons with optogenetics to decipher their role in modulating sensory coding during the auditory learning process.
This project will bring a novel insight in auditory coding by identifying long-range modulators of the primary auditory cortex. More generally, it will increase our understanding of the learning-processes that occur in sensory cortices which can be impaired in pathological conditions such as in tinnitus, autism or schizophrenia.
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.
- social sciences sociology social issues social inequalities
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine otorhinolaryngology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine psychiatry schizophrenia
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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.
4051 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.