Project Summary:
The basic organisation of the brain is quite similar across different groups of mammals, ranging from rodents, which include rats and mice, to primates, which include monkeys and humans. Therefore, we can learn important principles of brain function relevant to humans by studying the brains of rats and mice.
To study brain mechanisms of cognition and behaviour, as well as of cognitive and behavioural impairments relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s, it is important to combine measurements from and manipulations of the brain with tests of behavioural and cognitive functions. For ethical reasons, neuroscience methods that allow researchers specific brain manipulations (e.g., affecting selected brain regions, specific neuron types or distinct neurotransmitter systems) or the detailed measurement of brain function (e.g., firing of neurons within selected brain regions) cannot normally be used in human participants. Therefore, studies in animal models, including rodents, where we can combine a wide range of neuroscience methods with behavioural and cognitive testing are of great importance to examine in detail the brain mechanisms of cognition and behaviour, as well as of cognitive and behavioural impairments relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders.
This project will introduce students to such behavioural and cognitive neuroscience research in rodent models, based on the supervisors’ ongoing research that combines neuroscience methods with behavioural and cognitive testing in rat and mouse models.
Full Project Description:
The combination of neuroscience methods and behavioural testing in rodent models (rats and mice) allows us to examine in detail the brain mechanisms of cognition and behaviour, as well as of cognitive and behavioural impairments relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s. The purpose of this project is to introduce the student to such in vivo neuro-behavioural studies in rodent models. The student will experience a range of relevant in vivo neuroscience and behavioural methods in rats or mice based on the supervisors’ ongoing research (for more information on our current research lines and relevant papers, please google our names to find our university research webpages).
•Introduction to ethical and legal frameworks relating to animal research: Students will learn about the important principle of the 3Rs and how this principle is translated into research practice.
• Cognitive/behavioural studies: Students will receive training in the handling and cognitive/behavioural testing of rodents.
• In vivo neurobiological studies: Depending on which studies are ongoing, students may be introduced to stereotaxic brain surgery (e.g., to selectively manipulate or record from specific brain regions), intracerebral drug microinfusions, chemo/pharmacogenetic methods, transgenic rodent models, in vivo electrophysiology and translational MR imaging.
• Students will learn about the design and analysis of neuro-behavioural studies and software used for neuro-behavioural data collection (e.g., Anymaze, MedPC,Ethovision, Plexon software) and for the statistical analysis of such data (e.g., JASP, Prism, SPSS).
Students will also attend bi-weekly lab group meetings, where we plan, interpret and discuss our research, and relevant neuroscience seminars.