US-France Cooperative Research: Systems and Biophysical Processing of Afferent Input by Vestibular Nucleus Neurons

这个为期三年的奖项支持美国-法国在神经科学和感觉系统方面的合作，合作者是加州大学洛杉矶分校（UCLA）医学院的Larry F. Hoffman和巴黎第六大学网络传感器神经生物学实验室的Lee Moore。研究人员建议开发一种新的方法来研究从单个前庭末端器官传入神经元的中枢神经系统的中央处理机制。他们将进行实验和建模研究，旨在揭示二级前庭神经元处理和神经计算的生物物理基础。研究的重点是来自水平半规管的动态不同传入信号的收敛。实验部分将由美国小组进行，利用自然前庭刺激和电生理记录方面的仪器和实验专业知识。这位法国研究者为这次合作带来了神经元生物物理学方面的专业知识。他将把他的方法整合到加州大学洛杉矶分校实验室进行的原位电生理准备中。前庭核神经元将被表征并随后通过共聚焦显微镜成像。然后，这些图像将在由法国小组进行的建模组件中使用。该奖项代表了美国方面向美国国家科学基金会和法国国家科学研究中心（CNRS）联合提出的建议。美国国家科学基金会将支付美国研究者的旅费和生活费。法国国家科学研究中心将支持法国调查员的访问。该建议将促进对中枢神经系统传入感觉神经元输入的理解，以及对平衡和运动障碍的生物医学理解。

0233337HoffmanThis three-year award supports US-France collaboration in neuroscience and sensory systems between Larry F. Hoffman at the School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Lee Moore at the Laboratory of the Neurobiology of Network Sensors at the University of Paris VI. The investigators propose to develop a new approach to investigate central processing mechanisms into the central nervous system of afferent neurons from individual vestibular end organs. They will conduct experiments and modeling studies designed to reveal the biophysical bases of processing and neural computation in second order vestibular neurons. The investigations focus on the convergence of dynamically diverse afferents projecting from the horizontal semicircular canal in the ear. The experimental component will be conducted by the US group, taking advantage of instrumental and experimental expertise in natural vestibular stimuli and electrophysiologic recordings. The French investigator brings to this collaboration expertise in neuron biophysics. He will integrate his methods into the preparation of in situ electrophysiology performed by the UCLA lab. The vestibular nucleus neurons will be characterized and subsequently imaged by confocal microscopy. The images will then be utilized in the modeling component conducted by the French group. This award represents the US side of joint proposals to the NSF and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). NSF will cover travel funds and living expenses for the US investigator. The CNRS will support the visits of the French investigator. The proposal will advance understanding of afferent sensory neuron input in the central nervous system and biomedical understanding of balance and movement disorders.