Objective This Co-Investigator Application is an interdisciplinary experimental analysis of the neurobiological mechanisms by which we acquire knowledge. Our approach builds on the foundations of contemporary cognitive neuroscience, particularly ideas about the neural mechanisms of declarative memory, and upon recent findings of the participating laboratories (Morris, Fernández) that have each addressed key issues associated with the rapid acquisition and assimilation of new associative information into existing neural ¿schemas¿. Rapid learning depends upon both novelty and prior knowledge. We propose a coordinated program of research concerning the mechanisms of both determinants. First, we will test that novelty, acting via the release of dopamine, has a direct impact on the mechanisms of cellular consolidation in the hippocampus. Second, with respect to prior knowledge, the retention of new event-related associative information requires the process of systems consolidation within declarative memory, as widely studied, but we further suggest that the organisation of knowledge requires more than just stabilising memory traces within neocortical networks. It also involves the integration of distinct memory traces into neural ¿schemas¿ that, once formed, have a major positive influence on future learning. Our experiments to date are supportive and we outline new research to examine the neurobiological basis of schemas. This will involve animal experimentation including novel behavioural tasks, optogenetics and single-cell recording; and functional magnetic resonance imaging of the human brain using new cognitive tasks combined with pharmacology, transcranial magnetic stimulation, model-free analysis methods, and a translational project reaching into real-world education. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologyengineering and technologymedical engineeringdiagnostic imagingmagnetic resonance imaging Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-AG-LS5 - ERC Advanced Grant - Neurosciences and neural disorders Call for proposal ERC-2010-AdG_20100317 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Host institution THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH EU contribution € 1 863 112,10 Address OLD COLLEGE, SOUTH BRIDGE EH8 9YL Edinburgh United Kingdom See on map Region Scotland Eastern Scotland Edinburgh Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Angela Noble (Ms.) Principal investigator Richard Graham Michael Morris (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH United Kingdom EU contribution € 1 863 112,10 Address OLD COLLEGE, SOUTH BRIDGE EH8 9YL Edinburgh See on map Region Scotland Eastern Scotland Edinburgh Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Angela Noble (Ms.) Principal investigator Richard Graham Michael Morris (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data STICHTING RADBOUD UNIVERSITEIT Netherlands EU contribution € 1 188 291,90 Address HOUTLAAN 4 6525 XZ Nijmegen See on map Region Oost-Nederland Gelderland Arnhem/Nijmegen Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Maarten Van Langen (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data