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Role of astroglial connexins in the regulation of sleep – AstroSleep
Our project aims at challenging the classic view of the “neurocentric” concept in a brain function such as sleep regulation. This view postulates that rhythmic activities recorded during sleep are only based on neuronal properties and circuits. However, glial cells which represent the most numerous
Connecting left and right brain: wiring mechanisms and functional diversity of cross-hemispheric projections. – CONNECTBRAIN
Commissural agenesis (neurological disorders in which one or more commissures of the brain do not develop in utero) are frequent brain malformations in humans. The most common concerns the Corpus Callosum, with an estimated prevalence of 1 out of 4000 live births. Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (Ag
Embryonic development of rhythmogenic motor networks – RhythmDev
By examining neural networks controlling the generation of rhythmic activities (locomotion and respiration) during the perinatal period we focus on a developmental period during which maturational processes have to occur for the neural networks to be fully functional at birth. Thus our results shou
Migration of guidepost neurons in forebrain circuits development – Corridor
Brain functioning remoes on complex neuronal circuits that begin to be established during embryogenesis. Since an abnormal development as been associated with the etiology of several neuropsychiatric diseases, undersatnding how the forebrain wires is essential for neurobiologists and clinicians. O
Spatial and functional organization of excitatory synapses at the nanoscale – NanoDom
The spatio-temporal organization of neurotransmitter receptors in the postsynaptic membrane is a fundamental determinant of synaptic transmission and thus information processing in the brain. Presynaptic vesicles contain a limited number of glutamate molecules, whose release creates a strong and loc
The 5-HT4 receptor networks: bodyguards of ADAM10 and APP trafficking – ADAMGUARD
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia affecting 35 million individuals worldwide and over 800 000 in France. During the course of this pathology, disequilibrium arises that induces Aß peptide over-production by the cells, and in particular by neurons. The accumulation of this
Depression and Nutrition – MoodFood
The cellular underpinnings of the pathophysiological mechanisms linking dietary PUFAs to depression remain to be fully elucidated. Specifically, how dietary PUFA modify synaptic activity in the neuronal circuits involved in emotional behavior and high cognitive function (such as the medial prefronta
Developing transgenic rat models to assess the consequences of a human polymorphism associated with increased risk of tobacco addiction. – GENETIC RAT
Our project aims to understand the impact of a human coding polymorphism concerning the a5 subunit of nAChRs on nicotine effects using a rat model of nicotine addiction and recording the activity of specific neurons in rats engaged in behaviours related to nicotine addiction. Role of a5*- nAChRs
Dopamine neurons for aversive learning – DARLING
With the hypothesis that the neuronal response of anatomically distinct dopamine neurons to conditioned stimuli will serve as a teaching signal for aversive associative learning, the DARLING project gathers 3 academic partners and is developed around 2 objectives: first to characterize how distinct
Dissection of an inhibitory gate that controls information flow in the hippocampus – CA2Gate
L’hippocampe est une structure cérébrale importante pour la formation de certaines mémoires. Cependant, malgré plusieurs décennie de recherche sur cette structure, les connections intra- et extra-hippocampiques ne sont pas complètement connues et des données récentes ont remis en question les modèle
Role of CYFIP1 in physiopathology of autism and intellectual disability – AUT-CYF
Specifically, in our project we plan: - To understand the role of CYFIP1 in neuronal morphology (dendritic arborization, synaptic morphology and density) and in synaptic transmission/plasticity; To dissect the role of CYFIP1 in learning and memory and in autistic behaviour; - To study the rol
New mechanisms for the fine-tuning of inhibitory synaptic receptor localization – Synaptune
. . . . In the past few years, we have developed optical, imaging and analytical tools to monitor the behavior of neurotransmitter receptors at the single molecule level. This allowed us to access novel dimensions of neurotransmission regulation. Based on this novel understanding of synaptic biology
Mood disruption in prolonged abstinence from drugs of abuse: molecular mechanisms and gene discovery in the dorsal raphe – ABSTINENCE
A major challenge in recovering from addiction is to maintain a drug-free state, also referred to as abstinent state. Prolonged abstinence is characterized by mood disorders that strongly contribute to relapse (cf figure). However, the “abstinence syndrome” has received little attention in preclinic
Sensory Motor Integration in the Cerebello-Cortical System – SMIC
The main objective of our project is to understand how sensory information is shaped before being sent to the motor cortex. To study this, we will focus on the system of the rat and mouse whiskers. In this system, we will analyze how the cerebellum contributes to shape the neuronal activity, what fe
Deciphering the function of RFX in morphogenesis of the neuronal network that controls growth and feeding behavior in Drosophila – Obeli-X
Drosophila provides a simple and powerful genetic model to study how neuronal networks are established and to dissect their functions. In particular, Drosophila genetic studies brought important contributions in understanding how some specific neuronal networks coordinate nutrient status to feeding
Motor Intention and Action Awareness – ConsciousBrain
This project addresses three main issues. First, what is the functional role of the cortical regions implicated in the emergence of conscious intention and motor awareness? Second, what is the functional organization of the cortical regions implicated in the emergence of conscious intention a
Two-Photon Lifetime Imaging of Oxygen Dynamics in Cerebral Capillaries – TPLIODCC
The economical cost of brain diseases associated with hypoxia is extremely high. To understand the relationship between oxygenation, blood flow and brain disease, and in the long run how therapeutics can be optimised to reduce brain damage, it is important to determine how oxygen is delivered to and
Planar cell polarity signaling in morphofunctional plasticity of hippocampal synaptic circuits – MossyPCP
The general aim of our project is to understand the role of planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling in the establishment and the plasticity of synaptic circuits, in physiological and pathophysiological conditions in mammals. Improper formation and maintenance of glutamatergic synapses has a tremendou
Superresolution imaging of the tripartite synapse – SUPERtri
Despite much progress, a major obstacle for investigating the crosstalk between astrocytes and neurons at synapses is their enormous morphological complexity and small size. This is particularly true for distal astrocytic processes that contact synapses, which typically are much too small to be prop
Investigating the roles of cilia during mammalian neurogenesis – CiliaStem
Ciliopathies are genetic pathologies leading to major handicap. It is thus crucial to better understand the etiology of these pathologies. Our first results suggest that cilia regulate cell size during brain development and contribute to hydrocephaly when deficient. We have also studied the formati
Optimization of visual processing by postural and navigation cues in the peripersonal space – OPTIVISION
The main objective of this project is to explore the way by which postural and navigation signals that carry out information on orientation and movement of the body are used for optimizing visual processing. We propose that body related signals can influence the activity of visual cortical neurons
Huntingtin in neurogenesis – HUGE
Abnormal expansion of a glutamine repeat (polyQ) in huntingtin (htt) is the causative event of Huntington's disease (HD), a neurological disorder. Given the predominant neurological signs developed by HD patients, much research has focused on the deleterious effects of the mutant protein in post-mit
Use of hematopoietic stem cells to target remyelination signals in multiple sclerosis – STEMIMUS
Multiple sclerosis (MS), the first cause of acquired non traumatic disability in the young adult, is a two-steps disease, with a relapsing-remitting phase, related to CNS inflammatory bouts, and a chronic phase, during which irreversible disability progressively increases. This later phase, partiall
Molecular and cellular control of germinal zones homeostasis in the adult zebrafish telencephalon – HOMEOSTEM
The mammalian adult brain (including in human) is poor at repairing or renewing its neuronal populations, in part due to the loss or the silencing of most neural progenitor cells along life. In contrast, some vertebrates, for example fishes, maintain numerous active neural stem cells in their adult
Modelling multi-factorial neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease: removing roadblocks towards the clinic – TARGET PD
Epidemiological and clinical evidences strongly suggest that PD results from a multifactorial etiology involving both genetic susceptibility factors and environmental exposures superimposing upon aging, the major risk factor for PD. Such multifactorial nature of the degenerative causes and processes
Mechanisms underlying the direct repression of FOXO by developmental factors and the induction of neuron survival deficiency – FOXODIRECT
Understanding cell and tissue longevity has several implications in human health. However, cellular longevity mechanisms are not completely understood, notably in neurons and in the brain. The FOXODIRECT project aims at understanding the mechanisms that regulate cellular and neuronal longevity in Hu
Transcriptional control of connectivity in the visceral nervous system. – PanPhox2
Our project aims at understanding the formation of the visceral nervous system, i.e. a set of neural circuits that control digestion, blood circulation, and many aspects of breathing. The angle of attack is the central role played in the differentiation of most visceral neurons by a single, dedicate