Control of when and what to learn by neuromodulation in the hippocampus

We are currently recruiting 3 postdoctoral positions and 1 technician to this project.

Overview:

In a constantly changing environment, the brain must store and update information in a way that depends on uncertainty. The hippocampus is central to this continual process but relies on inputs that signpost new information and regulate the extent to which it is incorporated in future estimates. Our central hypothesis proposes that this signposting is performed by functionally overlapping neuromodulator systems interacting in an integrated fashion to signal different types of error and uncertainty. This signal enables appropriate updating of memories stored in the hippocampus providing realistic expectations on which to base decision making in uncertain situations, a fundamental process whose disruption is a core feature of multiple psychiatric disorders.

To test these models, the team measures where and when neuromodulation by acetylcholine, dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin occurs in the hippocampus during spatial navigation tasks in mice designed to manipulate the type and degree of error and uncertainty. This is a collaborative effort with the groups of Dan Dombeck (Northwestern University, USA) to measure place cell adaptations and Claudia Clopath (Imperial College, UK) to place the findings within a novel theoretical framework.