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Freie Universität Berlin Charité University Medicine Berlin Humboldt University Berlin Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch |
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Freie Universität Berlin Charité University Medicine Berlin Humboldt University Berlin Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch |
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GRK 1123: |
Cellular Mechanisms of Learning and Memory Consolidation |
This Research Training Group is funded by the German Research Council DFG
| AG Ahnert-Hilger | AG Behr | AG Geiger | AG Haucke | AG Heinemann/ Kempter |
| AG Multhaup | AG Nitsch/ Wulczyn |
AG Rosenmund | AG Schmitz/ Brecht |
AG Sigrist |
Research
The Graduate School will offer the possibility to study cellular mechanisms of learning and memory formation as well as memory consolidation. Our understanding of such processes is of outmost interest in biology and medicine as it determines the capability of an organism to adapt to its environment independently of genetically determined behaviors. Consequently, formation of explicit memory is one of the most important aspects of human behavior and is the prerequisite of our individuality. Conversely, disturbance of the cellular and molecular processes underlying learning and memory can result in a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. These include devastating diseases such as temporal lobe epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. The most intensely studied cellular models of learning and memory are LTP (long-term potentiation) and LTD (long-term depression). Many of the underlying pre- and post-synaptic mechanisms are still far from being understood. While short-term memory depends on covalent modifications of preexisting proteins, enduring memory traces need to be consolidated and depend on gene transcription. The specific translated proteins contribute to changes in neuronal circuitry that might comprise the generation of sharp wave ripple complexes, the formation of frequency memories and low frequency-induced heterosynaptic increases in LTP. Moreover, stored information may be replayed in the form of patterns of neuronal activity during REM sleep superimposed on theta and gamma rhythms and thereby cause alterations of synaptic coupling outside the hippocampus proper. Each of the 13 tutors of this graduate school will bring to these problems his or her specific expertise. Using physiological, morphological, cell biological, genetic, and behavioral methods, as well as modeling of neuronal network properties, the students in the graduate school will have the opportunity to contribute to this exciting field of the neurosciences within an excellent environment for training in modern neurobiological methods.
