Phase response properties of hippocampal neurons

神经科学的一个基本挑战是理解记忆，即如何将信息存储在神经回路中并从中检索。虽然突触可塑性可能有助于记忆储存，但提取过程的细胞基础尚未得到研究。本项目的目的是研究从海马体提取信息的基本细胞过程，这是某些类型记忆所必需的。在记忆处理过程中，海马网络进入约5 Hz的特征振荡状态，称为theta活动，并且据信信息可以通过相对于该网络振荡的单个神经元中的尖峰的定时来表示。在这里，我们将研究如何在单个神经元中通过瞬时刺激引起的放电相位来检索信息。允许这种情况发生的神经元的属性是所谓的相位响应曲线（PRC），它定义了尖峰相对于正在进行的振荡的定时。我们希望，这种分析神经元特性的方法可以给我们提供对记忆的新见解，既可以基本了解大脑中的信息存储，也可以开发新的记忆障碍治疗方法，还可以将类似的原理有效地应用于计算机。

A fundamental challenge in neuroscience is to understand memory, i.e. how information can be stored in and retrieved from a neural circuit. Whereas synaptic plasticity is likely to contribute to memory storage, the cellular basis of the retrieval process has not been studied. The aim of the present project is to study fundamental cellular processes underlying retrieval of information from the hippocampus, known to be necessary for certain types of memory. During memory processing, the hippocampal network enters a state of characteristic oscillations of around 5 Hz, referred to as theta activity, and it is believed that information can be represented by the timing of spikes in individual neurons relative to this network oscillation. Here we would study how information can be retrieved in individual neurons by the phase of firing induced by a transient stimulus. The property of the neuron that allows this to happen is the so-called phase response curve (PRC), which defines the timing of the spike relative to the on-going oscillation. We hope that this way of analysing neuronal properties can give us new insight into memory, both for the basic understanding of information storage in the brain, for the possiblity of developing new treatments of memory disorders, and for the possibility that similar principles can be used powerfully in computers.