NeuroCommunications

Prof. Denise Manahan-Vaughan (Department of Neurophysiology, Ruhr University Bochum)

“Catecholaminergic control of hippocampal information encoding”

15.03.2023

2pm

LIN, Ebbinghaus Lecture Hall

About the speaker

We focus on the characterisation of hippocampal synaptic plasticity as a learning mechanism. Two types of synaptic plasticity are primarily investigated: long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). We also study metaplasticity (as a higher order modulator of synaptic plasticity).
We have a multidisciplinary approach which incorporates in vivo electrophysiology in freely moving rodents with in vitro electrophysiology using the hippocampal slice preparation, as well as behavioral analysis of learning, confocal microscopy, immunohistochemical, biochemical and molecular biological analysis. We are interested in both the physiology and pathology of learning and memory / synaptic plasticity.
On a physiological level we examine how synaptic plasticity, place cells and neuronal oscillations contribute to learning and how learning drives synaptic plasticity in health and disease. Here in vivo electrophysiology and EEG analysis is combined with behavioral learning models and animal models of brain disorders.

The presentation will be hosted by Damaris Holder on behalf of the Department Cellular Neuroscience, LIN. Don’t miss your chance to talk with Prof. Manahan-Vaughan and reserve your time slot via email to the host (damaris.holder@lin-magdeburg.de)!

Additionally, for Ph.D. students there is the special opportunity to join the speaker lunch at LIN at 12.30 pm. Interested researchers are very welcome to shoot the host an email (damaris.holder@lin-magdeburg.de) to sign up for it. External Ph.D. students are also very welcome to join!