Investigating Action Potential Initiation And Propagation In Neurons Using Voltage-sensitive Dyes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$317,076.00
Summary
Nerve impulses, or action potentials, are the fundamental electrical signals used by the nervous system for communication. Critical to an understanding of neuronal function is the knowledge of where these events are initiated and how they propagate. Furthermore, this knowledge is required for understanding what goes wrong under conditions where there is a disturbance in neuronal communication, as occurs in many neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.
Synaptic Inhibition And The Control Of Excitability In The Rodent Piriform Cortex
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$459,738.00
Summary
We are studying the properties of neurons (nerve cells) and brain circuits that enable mammals to recognise and remember odours. Our experiments will focus on neurons in the odour-processing region of the cerebral cortex of mice. This work will answer fundamental questions about how the brain interprets sensory inputs in order to build a coherent picture of the external world. Our findings will also provide a deeper understanding of the causes of epilepsy, leading to improved treatments.
The research described in this Project Grant application should help to us understand how our brains make memories. Our brains contain billions of interconnected nerve cells forming unimaginable numbers of possible networks. Previous research indicates that repetitive activation of individual networks can lead to changes in the strength of connections between nerve cells. These changes in connection strength are thought to underlie learning and memory. The experiments described in this proposal ....The research described in this Project Grant application should help to us understand how our brains make memories. Our brains contain billions of interconnected nerve cells forming unimaginable numbers of possible networks. Previous research indicates that repetitive activation of individual networks can lead to changes in the strength of connections between nerve cells. These changes in connection strength are thought to underlie learning and memory. The experiments described in this proposal will address the mechanisms underlying changes in the strength of connections between nerve cells. As most of the inputs nerve cells receive from other nerve cells are made onto their dendrites (small branching processes that extend from the cell body), the main objective is to investigate the interactions at the dendritic level responsible for changes in connection strength. The results of this work will raise our understanding of how memories are formed, which will be essential if we are to understand the cellular processes disrupted during memory dysfunction in neurological disorders such as dementia.Read moreRead less