We are\u00a0pioneering a novel mixed method, cross-disciplinary approach at the interface of experiments and computational modelling to explore and generate new insights on the function of neuromodulators in brain computation.\u00a0Neuromodulators, the master switches of the brain, regulate shifts between behavioural states such as learning and prediction, attention and distraction, exploration and exploitation by controlling the electrical oscillations in neural networks.\u00a0Neural oscillations, which are thought to reflect behavioural states,\u00a0are rhythmic or repetitive patterns of activity\u00a0occurring at different frequencies and can be\u00a0driven either by mechanisms within individual\u00a0neurons\u00a0or by interactions between neurons. Among these, high frequency \u201cgamma\u201d oscillations are directly related to cognitive functions such as\u00a0attention,\u00a0learning and\u00a0memory.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are, specifically, interested in studying the role of histamine in learning and memory in the rodent visual cortex.\u00a0Recent evidence demonstrates that gamma oscillations are associated with an increase in the release of histamine in the hippocampus. The\u00a0role of\u00a0histamine in modulating the immune response and inflammation is well known. However, it constitutes an entirely separate neuromodulatory system within the brain, which is thought to govern cognitive functions such as learning and memory, as well as sleep. While the sleep-inducing effects of antihistamines are well known and that altered release of brain histamine marks the onset of seizure-like network activity, its effects on the building blocks of the neocortex and how these collectively shape the emergence of neural oscillations, learning and behaviour are completely unknown.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ambition of our research programme, therefore, is\u00a0to 1)\u00a0Systematically\u00a0dissect the\u00a0multi-scale effects of neuromodulators on the\u00a0building blocks of the neocortex \u2013 cells, synapses, microcircuits to shape neural oscillations leading to learning and behaviour 2) Implement biological organizing principles to develop\u00a0\u201cneuromodulation-aware\u201d\u00a0artificial neural networks (ANNs) and predict how the neocortex learns\u00a0and represents information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We are\u00a0pioneering a novel mixed method, cross-disciplinary approach at the interface of experiments and computational modelling to explore and generate new insights on the function of neuromodulators in brain computation.\u00a0Neuromodulators, the master switches of the brain, regulate shifts between behavioural … Continue reading