Analyzing the Role of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Contextual Fear Memory

该培训和研究奖项将为候选人作为分子和科学家的独立职业生涯做好准备 行为神经科学家使用严格的行为测试和基因操作来分析大脑 学习和记忆的基础回路候选人是一位实验心理学家， 动物学习领域的经验。在该奖项的培训（K99）阶段，现已完成， 候选人（1）发展了分子遗传学和定量显微镜的实验室技能;（2） 扩大了他的分子遗传学和转化神经科学的知识，使他能够独立地 发展新的科学思想，将他的研究成果与知识相结合，并将其与 临床实践;（3）对实践中固有的伦理问题有了深刻的理解 科学;（4）在一所主要的研究型大学获得了终身教职。独立 (ROO)该奖项的阶段将提供支持，因为候选人建立一个独立的研究 一个旨在阐明成年海马神经发生机制的项目， 学习和记忆。成年海马体保留了产生神经元的能力， 文献记载，成人出生的神经元在功能上是重要的。候选人表示，由于 例如，使用辐照或诱导基因方法阻断海马神经发生 情境恐惧条件化，一种普遍存在的学习形式，其中生物体获得对环境的恐惧 可以预测伤害使用情境恐惧条件反射作为模型系统，拟议的研究将使用 有针对性的辐射和遗传操作，以分析如何成年出生的神经元有助于收购， 记忆的保留和恢复

This training and research award will prepare the candidate for an independent career as a molecular and behavioral neuroscientist using rigorous behavioral tesfing and genefic manipulafions to analyze the brain circuits underlying learning and memory. The candidate is an experimental psychologist with significant experience in the area of animal learning. In the training (K99) phase of the award, which is now complete, the candidate (1) developed laboratory skills in molecular genetics and quantitative microscopy; (2) expanded his knowledge of molecular genefics and translational neuroscience so that he can independently develop novel scientific ideas, integrate his research findings with exisfing knowledge, and relate them to clinical practice; (3) developed a strong understanding of the ethical issues inherent in the pracfice of science; and (4) secured a tenure-track faculty position at a major research university. The independent (ROO) phase of the award will provide support as the candidate establishes an independent research program aimed at elucidafing mechanisms through which adult hippocampal neurogenesis contributes to learning and memory. The adult hippocampus retains the ability to generate neurons, and a rapidly growing literature documents that adult-born neurons are funcfionally significant. The candidate has shown, for instance, that blocking hippocampal neurogenesis using irradiafion or an inducible genefic method impairs contextual fear condifioning, a ubiquitous form of learning in which organisms acquire fear of environments that predict harm. Using contextual fear conditioning as a model system, the proposed research will use targeted irradiation and genetic manipulations to analyze how adult-born neurons contribute to acquisition, retenfion, and retrieval of memories.