Hippocampal, Subcortical and Cortical Interactions in Memory and Plasticity

公众对大脑功能和功能障碍非常感兴趣。哪些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如此强烈，特别是，更多地了解记忆是如何工作的，是吸引公众注意力的主题之一。在这个研究项目中，我们试图评估的神经生物学理论涉及心理学、神经生物学和分子遗传学，其中包括进一步开发新的动物记忆测试，对参与记忆形成、储存和检索的大脑活动进行生理学研究，以及对基因改造小鼠进行研究，这些小鼠被明确设计为模仿阿尔茨海默氏症的关键方面。的疾病。每个申请人都有机会在公开讲座或学校访问中解释一些想法。这些活动为我们提供了讨论多种记忆系统的原理、所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。我们中的一个（RGMM）是FENS的主席和欧洲达纳联盟（EDAB）的理事会成员。他最近协调了英国神经科学协会的修订？小册子在哪儿？神经科学：大脑的科学？这本书已经免费分发给英国所有的中学科学系，并通过BNA和IBRO翻译成几种语言（包括西班牙语和汉语）。我们也认识到，我们的研究的治疗学方面需要谨慎对待。我们很荣幸能为我们希望能成为阿尔茨海默病预防性治疗的一小部分做出贡献？的疾病。然而，这样的工作应该非常小心地向公众报告，以免引起错误的希望，并且远远超出目前疾病动物模型的水平。我们致力于以知情但负责任的方式向公众传播科学。

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.