Objective
Understanding how perceptual input is transformed by neurons into behavioral responses is a central question in neuroscience. Recent work indicates that, for ethologically relevant stimuli—like prey pursuit and predator avoidance—neural correlates of behavior already emerge within retinal circuits, challenging the view of the retina as a mere low-level feature detector.
This project will test the hypothesis that retinal ganglion cells (RGC) contribute to these behaviors depending on the visual context. Natural environments are visually complex, yet simplified stimuli are common in vision research, probably obscuring context-dependent retinal computations. To overcome this, I will develop an integrated pipeline that combines naturalistic behavior, retinal electrophysiology, and computational modeling. First, I will quantify how complex backgrounds modulate mice hunting performance in an immersive arena. Then, using mice-perspective videos from behavioral trails, I will stimulate retinal explants on multi-electrode arrays to record RGC responses, the retinal output. Finally, I will train convolutional neural networks on this data to create predictive models describing the RGC computations, which will be finally validated in the behavioral arena. This approach will reveal how background modulates retinal output to drive prey capture, closing the loop from neural responses to behavior.
Ultimately, this project moves beyond reductionist approaches by using naturalistic stimuli to study the system as a whole, probing its responses to the very inputs that shaped its evolution.
My expertise in retinal physiology and behavior perfectly complements the host's proficiency in electrophysiology and modeling. This synergy uniquely positions me to successfully execute this interdisciplinary project. After completion, this fellowship will equip me with the necessary skills I need to create an interdisciplinary research team in the emerging field of neuroscience of natural behavior
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
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine ophthalmology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence computational intelligence
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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-2025-PF
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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.
75006 Paris
France
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.