CEREBNET

Timing and plasticity in the olivo-cerebellar system

 Partecipanti

Mappa

 Word cloud

Esplora la "nuvola delle parole (Word Cloud) per avere un'idea di massima del progetto.

 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Training young researchers to form the new generation of scientists is a must for our society. In this project we will use a multidisciplinary approach to investigate neuronal and circuit functions in the cerebellar network, which plays a critical role in sensori-motor control and is probably also involved in higher cognitive functions. The project will focus on timing and plasticity in the network. Recent results, largely achieved in our own groups, have shown indeed that timing and plasticity play a critical role in determining the computational properties of the circuit. Different groups will be involved in investigating these processes in the granular layer, the molecular layer, the deep cerebellar nuclei and the inferior olive and particular emphasis will be given to attempts at reconstructing hypotheses on the link between these circuit components. We will therefore employ and develop new technologies including various applications of patch-clamping, imaging and mathematical modeling, as well as molecular biology and behavioral analysis in mutant mice. The project is based on a previous extensive scientific interchange between the participating groups, which have already developed collaborative activities in the past. We envisage to employ young scientists in PhD and postdoctoral programs (16 ESR and 3 ER) and to promote their interchange among our laboratories, both by developing collaborative investigations and by organizing workshops and training courses on scientific issues, techniques, and general skills. The participation of industries will ensure research and training on productive aspects and on management of science, strongly improving the effectiveness of the network in preparing new scientific operators and leaders in the emerging field of Cellular/System Neuroscience and Neurocomputation fostering application in the bio-medical, bio-engineering and IST sectors.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Understanding the complexities of learning and memory requires a multidisciplinary approach covering neuroscience, computational modelling and more. Expert mentors are training new scientists to ensure continued progress.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Many analogies have been made between the brain and electronic devices to explain and understand nervous system functions and their biological substrates. The brain is an elaborate circuit of interconnected neurons and other cells. They communicate largely through changes in local currents and voltages quite accurately described using mathematical equations.

The cerebellum in the brain is intricately involved in the coordination of movement, including sensorimotor and, very likely, other higher functions. Investigations of cerebellar circuits offer a backdrop for the multidisciplinary training of new scientists. Techniques cover fields including, amongst others, cellular and systems neuroscience, behavioural and computational methods, molecular neurobiology and biomedical engineering.

A consortium of scientific groups with a long history of productive collaboration and scientific exchange initiated the EU-funded project 'Timing and plasticity in the olivo-cerebellar system' (CEREBNET). The aim is to train a new generation of scientists, expanding the network and increasing its future strength. The focus is on temporal facets of neuronal computation and related changes in circuit connections (plasticity) that are neural substrates of learning and memory.

The network has already enrolled 14 PhD students and three post-doctoral scientists. The excellent existing relationship among the partner labs is fostering personnel exchanges, collaborative investigations and training in related skills. Participation of industry representatives is ensuring applied research for commercial application as well as the preparation of scientists as leaders in scientific management. The young scientists are already making important progress in advancing single neuron models and large-scale network models describing computation and plasticity.

http://www.cerebnet.eu/ (CEREBNET) partners are contributing their labs, time and expertise to the high-level multidisciplinary neuroscience-related training of promising young researchers. Inclusion of grant writing and science management in the toolkits of trainees together with encouragement of entrepreneurial spin-offs should ensure bright futures for the beneficiaries. On a larger level, CEREBNET expects to contribute to increased understanding of neuronal mechanisms of learning and memory. This could lead to important therapies for debilitating neurodegenerative diseases and impairments due to traumatic brain injury.