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One or more keywords matched the following properties of Hansel, Christian R.
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overview Neural networks are able to store information and to learn by adapting the efficacy of synaptic communication between neurons in an activity-dependent way. ‘Synaptic memory’ formation can be bidirectional: synapses can undergo long-term potentiation (LTP) or long-term depression (LTD). These processes participate in behavioral learning in specific ways that depend on the layout of the neuronal circuit that is studied. In our laboratory, we examine forms of synaptic and non-synaptic plasticity in the cerebellum, a brain area that is involved in fine adaptation of movements, but is involved in cognitive functions as well. In Marr-Albus-Ito models of cerebellar function, LTD at parallel fiber (PF) synapses onto Purkinje cells, which provide the sole output of the cerebellar cortex, is seen as a cellular correlate of motor learning, and forms of associative learning in general. LTD is induced by co-activation of PF synapses with the climbing fiber (CF) input, and is postsynaptically induced and expressed. Next to LTD, we also study a postsynaptic form of LTP at PF synapses that is induced by isolated PF activation and might provide a reversal mechanism for LTD (formally, LTD might also provide a reversal mechanism for LTP). We have recently shown that bidirectional plasticity at PF synapses is governed by induction rules that operate inverse to their counterparts at hippocampal and neocortical synapses: 1) PF-LTD needs larger calcium transients for its induction than LTP, and 2) PF-LTD is kinase-dependent (PKC / aCaMKII), whereas PF-LTP is phosphatase-dependent. Moreover, we have shown that the direction of synaptic gain change (potentiation or depression) depends on whether the CF input was co-activated (LTD) or not (LTP). This control by a qualitatively different heterosynaptic input provides a unique plasticity motif in the brain. In addition to LTD and LTP, we also examine intrinsic plasticity in Purkinje cells. We have shown that the intrinsic excitability of Purkinje cells can be amplified by a downregulation of calcium-dependent SK2-type potassium channels, and that this form of plasticity complements LTD and LTP in information storage. In the lab, we use patch-clamp recording techniques (incl. patch-clamp recordings from Purkinje cell dendrites), as well as confocal calcium imaging to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory. These studies are complemented by the use of additional techniques such as immunohistochemistry and behavioral testing. More recently, we also study the effects of alcohol on cerebellar function and motor adaptation, and the role of deficits in cerebellar associative learning in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
One or more keywords matched the following items that are connected to Hansel, Christian R.
Item TypeName
Concept Synapses
Academic Article Glutamate release during LTD at cerebellar climbing fiber-Purkinje cell synapses.
Academic Article Long-term depression of climbing fiber-evoked calcium transients in Purkinje cell dendrites.
Academic Article Synaptic memories upside down: bidirectional plasticity at cerebellar parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses.
Academic Article Synaptic plasticity and calcium signaling in Purkinje cells of the central cerebellar lobes of mormyrid fish.
Academic Article Alcohol impairs long-term depression at the cerebellar parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapse.
Academic Article Voltage-gated sodium channels in cerebellar Purkinje cells of mormyrid fish.
Academic Article Purkinje cell NMDA receptors assume a key role in synaptic gain control in the mature cerebellum.
Academic Article betaCaMKII controls the direction of plasticity at parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses.
Academic Article Ataxias and cerebellar dysfunction: involvement of synaptic plasticity deficits?
Academic Article Climbing fiber synaptic plasticity and modifications in Purkinje cell excitability.
Academic Article Intrinsic plasticity complements long-term potentiation in parallel fiber input gain control in cerebellar Purkinje cells.
Academic Article SK2 channel expression and function in cerebellar Purkinje cells.
Academic Article Ethanol affects NMDA receptor signaling at climbing fiber-Purkinje cell synapses in mice and impairs cerebellar LTD.
Academic Article Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor activation blocks long-term potentiation at cerebellar parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses via cannabinoid signaling.
Academic Article Cerebellar plasticity and motor learning deficits in a copy-number variation mouse model of autism.
Academic Article Enhanced AMPA receptor function promotes cerebellar long-term depression rather than potentiation.
Academic Article Asymmetries in Cerebellar Plasticity and Motor Learning.
Academic Article Calcium threshold shift enables frequency-independent control of plasticity by an instructive signal.
Academic Article Complex spike clusters and false-positive rejection in a cerebellar supervised learning rule.
Academic Article Why is synaptic plasticity not enough?
Academic Article Part II. J. C. Eccles, R. Llinas and K. Sasaki, The Excitatory Synaptic Action of Climbing Fibres on the Purkinje Cells of the Cerebellum, J Physiol, 182: 268-296, 1966: the Rise of the Complex Spike.
Academic Article Climbing fiber multi-innervation of mouse Purkinje dendrites with arborization common to human.
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