Stimulus-dependent permanent labeling of neuronal ensembles pattern and circuit connectivity using viral TRAP strategy

2021.05.26 | Graduate School of Health

On Tuesday 15 June at 14:00, Meet Sanjaykumar Jariwala defends his PhD dissertation entitled "Stimulus-dependent permanent labeling of neuronal ensembles pattern and circuit connectivity using viral TRAP strategy".

The rodent brain contains millions of nerve cells (neurons). Will all neurons activate at the same time during a behavior? How the neurons are connected with each other? What happens if some activated neurons are manipulated?

One of the fundamental aims in modern neuroscience is to understand how the brain represents the external environment through the network coordination. Classical techniques were limited to neuroanatomical and histological approaches but to define neurons by their activation pattern and genetic components require novel technologies. Recent advances in genetic tools are able to capture how the brain represents behavior and alter emotional states.

In my PhD study, a newly developed genetic strategy, TRAP (Targeted Recombination in Active Populations), has been used to gain genetic control in neurons that express high level of fos (an immediate early gene) linked to a specific behavior. In the case of memory formation, the cohort of neurons that express fos is called engram.

Thus, the results of my thesis show two novel approaches that provide: 1) labelling of active inputs specific to stimuli without prior knowledge of their origins and 2) functional evidence of engram formation and manipulation in the central lateral amygdala. These achievements that I have applied to mapping of the emotional brain circuit could be extended in the future to examine the neuronal circuits underlying even more complex behaviors such as perception and cognition.

The summary is written by the PhD student.    

The defence is public and takes place online. Please read the attached press release for more information.

Contact:

PhD student Meet Sanjaykumar Jariwala

Mail: meet.jariwala@biomed.au.dk

Phone: (+45) 91447038

Read full press release