Workplan
Overall strategy of the work plan
The main aim of this project is to define the intrinsic function of the basal ganglia and particularly striatum and thereby the neural mechanisms determining the selection of a given action at a given instant. The related neural mechanisms underlying motor learning will also be addressed. To achieve this, four main approaches will be used that combine multicellular microcircuit analyses of striatal subpopulations (detailed structure and function) with biologically realistic modelling, recordings of neuronal activity during actual behaviour leading up to a systems level model considering the cortical/thalamic input to subtypes of cells/microcircuits in striatum and the pallidal output level to brainstem motor centres.
Work packages
The project is divided into four parts subdivided into 2 or 3 work packages.
- Striatal "base line" microcircuitry studied by multiple neuron recordings in rodent and lamprey striatal slices combined with detailed biophysically realistic microcircuit modelling and structural analyses
- The impact of modulation on striatal microcircuit operation - experiments and modulator-focused modelling
- Neuronal activity in striatum during specific patterns of motor behaviour
- Large scale systems level modelling of basal ganglia function - with cortical/thalamic input and output target motor systems (selection of behaviour and plasticity - reinforcement learning)
Timing of work packages
All parts will run in parallel. For the detailed timing of the work packages and their components, click here.