Project description
Untangling factors shaping brain integration of audiovisual information
Combining visual and auditory information is essential for survival. How and where the brain integrates these signals remains unclear. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the AudiovisualStrategy project will test the hypothesis that integration mechanisms differ depending on the behavioural task and the animal’s behavioural state (e.g. running versus walking). To do so, the project will use two established audiovisual tasks known to produce different integration approaches together with optogenetics. AudiovisualStrategy will reversibly silence more than 50 brain regions in mice as they switch tasks and states. Tracing the connections of these brain regions to specific target areas could shed light on sensory integration and related cognitive disorders.
Objective
Combining visual and auditory signals in the environment is central to survival, whether predator, prey, or pedestrian. Despite this ubiquity, studies disagree on how and where auditory and visual information is integrated in the brain. These disagreements are hypothesised to arise from differences in behavioural tasks and animal states (running or stationary). I propose to test this hypothesis and interrogate the underlying neural circuitry with state-the-art optogenetic techniques. First, I will train the same mice on two established behavioural tasks known to produce distinct audiovisual integration strategies: one where auditory and visual information streams are equally combined, and one where a single modality dominates. This will determine whether differences in strategy are attributable to differences in task structure, and whether behavioural state has a consistent impact on these strategies. Second, I will use an established optogenetics technique to reversibly inactivate 52 cortical regions in each mouse as they transition between behavioural tasks and states. This will establish whether the audiovisual circuitry changes with task structure, as has been proposed, and may also uncover new multisensory pathways. Finally, I will use a novel combination of optogenetic tools to causally test connections from all 52 cortical regions to a specific target region in each mouse. This will reveal whether switching between tasks leads to differences in the communication between brain regions and links these to task structure and behavioural state. These results will reveal foundational principles of audiovisual integration and will provide a foothold to understand why failures in this process are associated with cognitive disorders. Furthermore, revealing how differences in task structure can change the behaviour of animals and the underlying neural circuitry will have board implications for studies throughout behavioural neuroscience.
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)
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Topic(s)
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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
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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WC1E 6BT London
United Kingdom
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