Inhibitory interneurons in neuronal circuits for emotion and cognition

The purpose is to investigate how neuronal circuit activity give rise to behaviour and mental function.

Such studies require insight into the participating neuronal types, their local and long-range connective partners, their activity pattern, and the consequences of that activity for behaviour.

We seek to identify circuit mechanisms by which specific inhibitory interneurons influence the activity of principle cells and the resulting effect on behaviour.

We particularly focus on disinhibition of spontaneously active inhibitory interneurons, so far shown to occur in basal ganglia circuitry, but not yet been shown to operate in cortical microcircuits.

The disentanglement of neuronal circuit function requires the identification of defined populations of interneurons and the use of reproducible behaviours.

Thus, our in-house developed genetic tools that labels unique subpopulations of interneurons combined with in vitro and in vivo measurements of network activity and behaviour are instrumental.

We apply novel and advanced methods, including monosynaptic tracing, optogenetics, and in-vivo miniscope imaging of neural activity.

Thus, we apply state-of-the-art interrogation of neurons of relevance for emotional disorders, such as anxiety, and disorders of memory and cognition (aging) with the aim to identify circuit components that can be reached clinically.

To bring results closer to the clinic, we will expand our studies of neuronal circuitries to higher mammals, such as the rat.