Project description
In search of the neurons implicated in the fear memory retrieval process
Fear is a powerful emotion and one that is difficult to manage. The resilience of fear memories – the difficulty in extinguishing them once formed – likely plays a role in disorders of fear and anxiety, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Evidence points to the role of several interrelated brain regions in fear conditioning and extinction, one of them being the prefrontal cortex. The EU-funded L6b project is characterising specific neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex of behaving mice to better understand their inputs and outputs and electrophysiological responses during fear memory retrieval. The experimental data will inform an in silico model of brain circuitry involved in cognitive behaviours and psychiatric disorders. The prediction of fear-related behavioural outcomes will confirm the critical role of these neurons in the behaviours studied.
Objective
One of the fundamental challenges in neuroscience research is to understand how diverse sensory inputs leading to the specific behavioral outcome and what are the networks underlie eliciting such behaviors. This question may only be answered when measurements of structural and functional properties of individual neurons are integrated into a coherent framework, which would then allow numerically simulate (in silico) different networks to predict possible behavioral outcomes. The ‘building block’ for a network model relies on anatomical and physiological data such as neuron input, neuron output, and physiological properties collected from animal experiments. The input can be determined by reconstructing dendrites, functional properties of the neuron can be estimated by obtaining electrophysiological measurements, and output can be determined by reconstructing by their 3D axon branching pattern. Current proposed project work will address some of the building blocks such as projection targets of single neurons upon a specific behavioral expression and their presynaptic partners that are responsible for eliciting such behaviors. Specifically, I will investigate the electrophysiological properties and anatomical connectivity of L6 neurons (L6b) of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) using state-of-the-art techniques and tools such as modified rabies virus labeling and neuron tracing, DREADD technology and optogenetics in a transgenic mouse line that selectively expresses Cre-recombinase in a subpopulation of layer 6b neurons. Exploring mPFC neural circuits may not only provide more in-depth insight on to its involvement in cognitive behaviors but also in a variety of psychiatric conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). The outcome of this study will establish the functional role of L6b of the mouse medial prefrontal cortex to its specific involvement in eliciting specific behavioral outcomes.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine psychiatry posttraumatic stress disorder
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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.
OX1 2JD Oxford
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.