SENSORY MEMORY · Neuromodulation of sensory perception and memory: a combined behavioral, electrophysiological and computational approach
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2005-04-01 → 2007-09-30
- EU contribution
- €205,310
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- OIF
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Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - SENSORY MEMORY (Neuromodulation of sensory perception and memory: a combined behavioural, electrophysiological and computational approach)
I have studied the plasticity in olfactory system induced by sensory experience. We have shown for the first time in the olfactory system, that a daily exposure to odorants during 10 days enhances rats' ability to discriminate between chemically similar odorants, an improvement of performances called perceptual learning (Mandairon et al., 2006c; Mandairon et al., 2006a). To go further, I have also studied the mechanisms involved in this learning including the plasticity of the bulbar network and the role of the neurogenesis which still occurs in the olfactory bulb of adult animals. We have shown that the improvement of olfactory performances, which is dependant of the NMDA receptors (Mandairon et al., 2006b), is correlated by an increase in local inhibitory interneuron responsiveness to odorants (Mandairon et al., 2007a) and an increase of neurogenesis (Mandairon et al, in preparation), contributing to experience-dependent changes in odorant discrimination. To understand better the mechanisms involved in olfactory perception and knowing that the olfactory bulb receives massive centrifugal inputs we have characterised the role of neuromodulator systems, cholinergic and noradrenergic, on olfactory perceptual capacities. We have demonstrated that the cholinergic and noradrenergic systems are involved spontaneous olfactory discrimination. I described a new form of olfactory plasticity induced by olfactory enrichment called perceptual learning. Also, I demonstrated some of the mechanisms underlying that learning. Olfactory perceptual learning is a relatively long-term increase in perceptual acuity and is critical for normal olfactory discrimination and so for animal's behaviour.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The overall goal of the projects in which the current proposal is embedded is to investigate the roles of different neuro-modulator systems in sensory processing and memory. For example, work in our laboratory has indicated that the effects of cholinergic modulation in the olfactory system go substantially beyond its generally assumed role as a modulator of attention. A major advantage of the olfactory system as a model system to study cholinergic neuro- modulation is that it receives a unique cholinergic projection from the horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca; as a consequence, specific manipulations to this projection will affect only the olfactory system. On the other hand, the olfactory bulb is unique among cortical brain structures in that it contains intrinsic dopaminergic neurons that mediate all dopaminergic modulation therein; no centrifugal dopaminergic fibres project into the bulb.The olfactory system presents a unique opportunity to investigate the respective roles of intrinsic versus extrinsic neuro-modulation in stimulus processing. Similarities in early onset olfactory deficits observed in patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson disease suggest that the specific roles of the two modulators may easily be confounded in some olfactory tests. Because odour perception cannot be measured without odour learning, effects on detection thresholds and effects on learning are difficult to disambiguate. To further investigate the respective roles of these modulators, we are currently testing how both types of modulation affect odour processing.As is the custom in our laboratory, complementary behavioural, electrophysiological and computational modelling studies will be performed; it is the combination of these three approaches that allows us to systematically investigate how changes in neural responses due to experimental manipulations lead to changes in perception.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE - DELEGATION RHONE ALPES - SITE VALLEE DU RHONE · VILLEURBANNECoordinatorCity levelFrance
- CORNELL UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT OF NEUROBIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR · ITHACA, NYCountry levelUnited States
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union