Project description
Shedding light on the contribution of the spinal cord to movement behaviour
Movement adjustment is a key element for survival in the animal kingdom. While the role of the brain in this process has always been at the epicentre of research, studies have revealed that the spinal cord is also crucial in adapting and learning motor sequences. The EU-funded SpiLearn project investigates the brain-independent mechanisms of learning that take place within the spinal cord. The project will perform a series of behavioural experiments based on pharmacological stimulation and circuit manipulation. It will identify the circuit dynamics that underlie motor learning capacity. SpiLearn is the first research project that attempts to trace the relationship between cell-type specific activity profiles in the spinal cord and a motor learning behaviour.
Objective
Animals adjust movement throughout their life to adapt to a changing environment and to learn new motor skills. The underlying mechanisms have been studied for decades, almost exclusively as a function of the brain. Interestingly, however, the spinal cord adapts and learns motor sequences without the brain, using only spinal sensory feedback. Therefore, the spinal cord must contain adequate neuronal circuitry for motor learning. This project aims to characterize brain-independent mechanisms of learning that take place within the spinal cord. With a complete thoracic transection, I will functionally isolate the lumbar spinal cord from the brain and enable hindlimb locomotion on a motorized treadmill with pharmacological stimulation. Using a skilled yet repetitive locomotor paradigm, I will identify cell-types indispensable for obstacle learning through circuit manipulation. Our preliminary data indicate that mice learn to avoid obstacles and improve their performance over weeks. We will test the integrity of this performance upon specific and acute inhibition of a selected neuronal population during the behavioral task. Furthermore, using in-vivo awake eletrophysiological recordings, I will characterize circuit dynamics that underlie motor learning capacity attributed to the spinal cord while mice perform the obstacle task. This project maximizes the synergies of the host lab’s expertise, i.e. kinematic analysis, circuit dissection, and the use of high-density Neuropixel probes, and my expertise in electrophysiological recordings in mouse spinal cord. In addition to implementing an innovative system of multichannel recordings of spinal circuits in behaving mice, knowledge gained from this project will enable linking cell-type specific activity profiles in the spinal cord to a motor learning behaviour for the first time. This link is an essential yet currently missing piece to understand how the spinal cord contributes to the acquisition of a new motor repertoire.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01
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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.
9052 ZWIJNAARDE - GENT
Belgium
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.