Elke Edelmann

Research Group Leader of Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Institute of Physiology at the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

Cellular engrams of memory are called either long-term potentiation (LTP) in case of a long-lasting increase of synaptic transmission or long-term depression (LTD) resulting from decreased synaptic transmission between neurons. The hippocampus (HIP) is a central brain region involved in learning and memory processes. We study the role of physiologically relevant spike timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) protocols in synaptic plasticity in the HIP. We investigate how neuromodulators like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or dopamine (DA) influence synaptic plasticity evoked by STDP paradigms. With the help of our experiments we will collect information about neuromodulatory functions and possible regional differences in in vivo like synaptic plasticity in the HIP. With these data we should be able to better understand how different signaling cascades act either independent or in concert to form memory traces. Additionally, our results will provide insights into the multitude of ways for activity-dependent potentiation and depression phenomena contributing to learning and memory processes.

Keywords: synaptic plasticity – hippocampus – dopamine – brain-derived neurotrophic factor – STDP

Location: OVGU (FME)

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