CORTEX MICROCIRCUITS · TWO-PHOTON ANALYSIS OF THE SPONTANEOUS DYNAMICS OF THE CORTICAL MICROCIRCUITS

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Project objective

My main research field concerns the functional analysis of biological neural networks at the level of membrane properties, synaptic transmission, and their regulations in relation with the network performance. In this view during my PhD I studied the organization of the crayfish locomotor network and deciphered the mechanisms that control posture. This project concerns the analysis of production of spontaneous neocortical activity (activity not driven by a sensory input or a motor command). Recent experiments demonstrated that this spontaneous activity, traditionally considered to be noise, is actually patterned and, in some cases, follows deterministic dynamics. The specific aim of my project is to characterize the circuits involved in generating persistent activity in cortical slices. The experimental work will combine two-photon imaging with electrophysiological recordings and anatomical studies in slices from mouse primary sensory cortex maintained in vitro. Calcium imaging will be used to study the spontaneous activity of the whole population of neurons using fast resolution two-photon microscopy. Patch clamp will be used to record from the cells involved in the microcircuit spontaneous activity.Subsequently, after intracellular injection of biocytin, a morphological analysis will be used to classify the intracellularly recorded neurons. I expect to identify preferred anatomical pathways that are responsible for generating and transmitting persistent activity in the neocortex. My results will contribute to the understanding of normal and pathological (epilepsy) functioning of the cortex, which is relevant to the objectives of the 6th PCRD (Life Sciences ? study of the brain and of its pathology). Furthermore, I will bring back in France, the techniques developed by Pr. Yuste to explore complex neural networks (an emerging scientific area). My training will thus benefit both at short term to my return host lab, and at long term (future positions in Europe).

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE · PARISCoordinatorFrance
• THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK · NEW YORKUnited States

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