Hippocampal, Subcortical and Cortical Interactions in Memory and Plasticity

公众对大脑功能和功能障碍有着极大的兴趣。是什么因素决定了我们的大脑如何发育？大脑的不同部分是做什么的？它们是如何工作的？我们吃什么重要吗？服用某些类型的潜在成瘾药物的价值和风险是什么？对神经科学的兴趣从未像现在这样浓厚，尤其是，更多地了解记忆是如何工作的，是吸引公众关注的话题清单上的重中之重。我们在这个研究项目中寻求评估的神经生物学理论有心理学、神经生物学和分子遗传学方面的因素。这些措施包括进一步开发新的动物记忆测试，对参与制造、存储和检索记忆的大脑活动进行生理学研究，以及使用专门用于模拟阿尔茨海默病-S病的关键方面的转基因小鼠。每个申请者都有机会在公开讲座或学校访问中解释一些想法。这些课程提供了谈论多重记忆系统的原理、涉及的不同大脑区域、突触生长和变化的重要性以及药物影响记忆的方式的机会。我们试图以一种直截了当的方式传达这些想法，同时尊重基础科学的真正复杂性。我们中的一位(RGMM)是FENS的主席和欧洲达纳联盟(EDAB)的理事会成员。他最近协调修订了英国神经科学协会？S关于？神经科学：脑的科学？的小册子。这本书已经免费分发给英国所有中学的科学系，并通过BNA和IBRO被翻译成几种语言(包括西班牙语和普通话)。我们也认识到，我们研究的治疗学方面应该谨慎对待。我们很荣幸能为我们希望成为阿尔茨海默病？S病的预防性治疗做出小小的贡献。然而，这样的工作应该非常谨慎地向公众报告，以免错误地带来希望，而且远远超出目前疾病动物模型所能证明的水平。我们致力于以知情但负责任的方式进行科学的公共传播。

There is enormous public interest in brain function and dysfunction. What factors determine how our brains develop? What do the different parts of the brain do? How do they work? Does it matter what we eat? What is the value and what are the risks of taking certain types of potentially addictive drugs? Interest in neuroscience has never been greater and, in particular, understanding more about how memory works is high on the list of topics that attracts public attention. The neurobiological theory that we seek to evaluate in this programme of research has psychological, neurobiological, and molecular-genetic strands to it. These include the further development of novel tests of memory in animals, physiological studies of brain activity involved in making, storing, and retrieving memories, and work with genetically altered mice expressly engineered to mimic key aspects of Alzheimer?s Disease. Each of the applicants has had occasion to explain some of the ideas in public lectures or schools visits. These have provided opportunities to talk about the principles of multiple memory systems, of the distinct brain areas involved, of the importance of synaptic growth and change, and of the way that drugs can affect memory. We try to put these ideas across in a way that conveys the central concepts in a straightforward manner, while respecting the true complexity of the underlying science. One of us (RGMM) is President of FENS and a Council Member of the European Dana Alliance (EDAB). He has recently coordinated the revision of the British Neuroscience Association?s booklet on ?Neuroscience: the Science of the Brain? that has been distributed gratis to all secondary school science departments in the UK and, through BNA and IBRO, is translated into several languages (including Spanish and Mandarin).We also recognise that the therapeutics aspect of our research much be treated with caution. We are privileged to be making a small contribution to what we hope could yet become a preventive treatment for Alzheimer?s Disease. However, such work should be reported to the public with great care for fear of raising hopes falsely, and well beyond what the current level of animal models of the disease can justify. We are committed to the public communication of science in an informed but responsible manner.