Corticothalamic ensembles for multimodal salience coding

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Alexander Groh, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Thomas Kuner
• Subject Area: Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology ; Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 438790705

This project investigates how behavioural functions are computed by putative neuronal ensembles in the sensory thalamus of mice. Building on our preliminary observations that sensory representations in the thalamus are context-dependent and multimodal, we will use electrophysiological and imaging approaches to study ensemble generation during simple yet natural behaviours, such as whisking and locomotion. In an object examination paradigm, we will test the hypothesis that thalamic ensembles represent perceptual stimulus salience. Finally, we will test the causal involvement of corticothalamic interactions in thalamic ensemble recruitment. Overall, we expect a better understanding of context-dependent sensory processing.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants