Methods in the lab:
- Large scale extracellular recordings of populations of neurons.
- Two photon laser scanning microscopy of neuronal structure (dendritic spines) and function (Ca2+-imaging).
- Behavioural training.
- mmunohistochemistrIy. Genetic tools for cell type specific targeting.
The project:
The hippocampus and entorhinal cortex are brain regions that are crucial for memory encoding and storage. Previously, recordings of neuron activity in behaving animals from these areas have revealed that these neurons generate a mental map of space (O’Keefe & Dostrovsky, 1971, Fyhn et al., 2004, Hafting et al., 2005). These maps are stable but presented to novel environments, new maps are formed. In the proposed master project we ask; What are the mechnisms for such plasticity in the adult brain? To address this we will remove one potential break to plasticity in the adult brain; namely perineuronal nets, which are specialized extracellular matrix structures surrounding the neurons. Thereafter we will use electrophysiology to record how this affect neural processing and map stability. From there we may move on to investigate how these changes affect memory processing and consolidation.
The student will work with rodents and in close collaboration with other members of the research group. The methods are technically demanding and the master student need to be highly motivated and have a strong interest in neuroscience.
The Hafting-Fyhn lab is a research group under the Program for Physiology and Neurobiology. The group currently consists of Marianne Fyhn (PI), Torkel Hafting (PI), two post docs, one PhD student and one master student. We can accept one student.
Relevant reading: Fyhn et al., 2004, Hafting et al., 2005, Hofer et at., 2009.