A5040722354- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Neuroscience, Education and Cognitive Function
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Glaucoma and retinal disorders
- Motor Control and Adaptation
- Data Visualization and Analytics
- Bioinformatics and Genomic Networks
- Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies
- Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Advanced Memory and Neural Computing
- Impact of Light on Environment and Health
- Medical and Biological Sciences
Durham University
2012-2024
University of Trento
2014-2023
In three experiments, the nature of interaction between multiple memory systems in rats solving a variation spatial task water maze was investigated. Throughout training were able to find submerged platform at fixed distance and direction from an intramaze landmark by learning landmark-goal vector. Extramaze cues also available for standard place learning, or “cognitive mapping,” but these valid only within each session, as position moved around pool sessions together with landmark. Animals...
Hippocampal theta frequency is a somewhat neglected topic relative to power, phase, coherence, and cross-frequency coupling. Accordingly, here we review present new data on variation in hippocampal frequency, focusing functional associations (temporal coding, anxiety reduction, learning, memory). Taking the rodent running-speed relationship as model, identify two doubly-dissociable components: (a) slope component of frequency-to-stimulus-rate ("theta slope"); (b) its y-intercept intercept")....
Abstract The dorsal periaqueductal grey (PAG) is an important site for integrating predatory threats. However, it remains unclear whether predator‐related activation in PAG primarily reflects threat itself and thus can distinguish between various degrees of threat, or rather threat‐oriented behaviours, with the potentially orchestrating different types defensive repertoire. To address this issue, we performed extracellular recording neurons freely behaving rats examined neuronal behavioural...
Of the many genetic mutations known to increase risk of autism spectrum disorder, a large proportion cluster upon synaptic proteins. One such family presynaptic proteins are neurexins (NRXN), and recent mouse evidence has suggested causative role for NRXN2 in generating altered social behaviours. Autism been conceptualised as disorder atypical connectivity, yet how single-gene affect connectivity remains under-explored. To attempt address this, we have developed quantitative analysis...
Studies of spontaneous behaviour to assess memory are widespread, but often the relationships objects contexts and spatial locations poorly defined.We examined whether object--location was maintained following global, not local, changes geometric shape an arena.Rats explored two trial--unique in a distinctively shaped arena before being exposed identical copies one these different physical location.Rats preferentially that were novel relation their local context rather than identifying both...
We examined the role of hippocampus and dorsolateral striatum in representation environmental geometry using a spontaneous object recognition procedure. Rats were placed kite-shaped arena allowed to explore two distinctive objects each right-angled corners. In different room, rats then into rectangular with identical copies one from exploration phase, adjacent corners that separated by long wall. Time spent exploring these was recorded as measure memory. Since both locations respect room...
Abstract Successfully navigating in physical or semantic space requires a neural representation of allocentric (map-based) vectors to boundaries, objects, and goals. Cognitive processes such as path-planning imagination entail recall vector representations, but evidence neuron-level memory for has been lacking. Here we describe novel neuron type (Vector Trace cell, VTC) whose firing generates new field when cue is encountered, also ‘trace’ version that hours after removal. VTCs are...
Abstract The ability to remember unique past events (episodic memory) may be an evolutionarily conserved function, with accumulating evidence of episodic-(like) memory processing in rodents. In humans, it likely contributes successful complex social networking. Rodents, arguably the most used laboratory models, are also rather animals. However, many behavioural paradigms devoid sociality, and commonly-used spontaneous recognition tasks (SRTs) open non-episodic strategies based upon...
<title>Abstract</title> The successor representation has emerged as a powerful model for understanding mammalian navigation and memory; explaining the spatial coding properties of hippocampal place cells entorhinal grid cells. However, diverse responses subicular neurons, primary output hippocampus, have eluded unified account. Here, we demonstrate that incorporating rodent behavioural biases into successfully reproduces heterogeneous activity patterns neurons. This framework accounts...
Abstract The successor representation has emerged as a powerful model for understanding mammalian navigation and memory; explaining the spatial coding properties of hippocampal place cells entorhinal grid cells. However, diverse responses subicular neurons, primary output hippocampus, have eluded unified account. Here, we demonstrate that incorporating rodent behavioural biases into successfully reproduces heterogeneous activity patterns neurons. This framework accounts emergence boundary...
Abstract Background Of the many genetic mutations known to increase risk of autism spectrum disorder, a large proportion cluster upon synaptic proteins. One such family presynaptic proteins are neurexins (NRXN), and recent mouse evidence has suggested causative role for NRXN2 in generating altered social behaviours. Autism been conceptualised as disorder atypical connectivity, yet how single-gene affect connectivity remains under-explored. To attempt address this, we have developed...
Abstract Theta phase precession is thought to confer key computational advantages (e.g. temporal compression suiting spike-timing related plasticity, cognitive relations as distances, and population-level coding for directions sequences). However, direct evidence speaking to: 1) its widely-theorised role in enhancing memorability; 2) dependence upon sensory input, lacking. We leveraged the Vector trace cell (VTC) phenomenon examine these issues. VTCs subiculum show a simple, unambiguous...
The ability to remember unique past events (episodic memory) may be an evolutionarily conserved function, with accumulating evidence of episodic-(like) memory processing in rodents. In humans, it likely contributes successful complex social networking. Rodents, arguably the most used laboratory models, are also rather animals. However, many behavioural paradigms devoid sociality, and commonly-used spontaneous recognition tasks (SRTs) open non-episodic strategies based upon familiarity. We...