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Project

Developing software and hardware methods tailor-made for neuroscience microscopy recordings

Many aspects of life are controlled by neuronal circuits that integrate multiple inputs to produce a balanced output, which is used to accurately control reflexes and behaviour. The complexity of neural control varies substantially in different organisms, ranging from rather simple circuits in lower organisms with limited numbers of neurons and connections (e.g reflex control in the snail Aplysia) to the highly complex circuitry of the human central nervous system (CNS). Apart from their hardwired connections, neuronal circuits can also be influenced by local modulators or hormones, which tune the output to environmental or emotional input.

Studying the behaviour and interactions of complex neuronal networks is very challenging, mainly because of the limited technology available to record from multiple elements (neurons or synaptic contacts) simultaneously. Although electrical techniques (patch-clamp or sharp electrode) allow recording of firing rates very accurately, they fall short of capturing integrated circuit activity as only one or a few cells can be monitored simultaneously. Optical microscopy techniques have the advantage that several cells or synaptic contacts can be visualized simultaneously and different fluorescent approaches have been developed to measure cellular activity, including voltage sensitive dyes and fluorescent Ca2+ dyes (e.g. Fluo-4). We have designed and built a new dual microscope that will be uses to simultaneously monitor neuronal network communication in cultures of dopaminergic (first order) and striatal (second order) neurons either isolated from mouse (SNc and striatum).

To date very little is known about how activity in one neuronal circuit determines activity in a second order circuit, because the tools to examine this issue with single cell resolution and for a large population of distant neurons are not yet available. The overarching goal of this project is to develop an automated platform for recording, manipulation and interpretation of neuronal circuits and pathways in vitro and use it to investigate the impact of aging and damage in a primary network onto the firing activity in a secondary network and to develop automated tracking and image analysis techniques along with machine learning approaches to define the determinants of synchronous and asynchronous activity.

Date:23 Sep 2016 →  21 Sep 2022
Keywords:Enteric nervous system
Disciplines:Multimedia processing, Biological system engineering, Signal processing
Project type:PhD project