Role of mossy cell excitation in episodic memory

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Christian Leibold; Magdalene Schlesiger, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Experimental and Theoretical Network Neuroscience ; Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 545616893

AMPA receptors are thought to fundamentally impact hippocampal activity and consequentially memory-dependent behaviour. We will probe their function in mossy cells of the dentate gyrus - key players in the recurrent hippocampal anatomical loop. To this end, we will selectively change the time course of synaptic excitation by manipulating specific AMPA receptor auxiliary proteins. The effects of these manipulations will be monitored by in vivo electrophysiological and behavioural assays and assessed by predictions from computational modelling. Specifically, we will test the prediction that slow EPSC kinetics support phase precession and probe the effects of altered phase precession on dentate gyrus-dependent memory tasks in mice, such as conditional place preference and object displacement. We will further refine existing single-cell and circuit models of phase precession to be in accordance with the obtained data sets.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants