Visualising pathways for learning in the rodent brain (360G-Wellcome-096520_Z_11_A)

Two complementary approaches will be developed and refined to examine and compare the properties of neural systems that support different forms of learning. The first approach will use twin fluorescent-tagged markers in the same rodent brain: One marker to reveal neurons that show selective increases of activity (e.g., by using the expression of immediate-early genes such as c-fos as proxy markers for learning-related activity), the other marker to determine the connectivity of the same neurons by the use of retrograde fluorescent markers. The goal is to isolate putative pathways in the brain for particular forms of memory, and then to test the specificity and nature of their involvement. Attention will focus on spatial memory and recognition memory. The second approach will test the temporary knock down of anatomically specified pathways, e.g., using the Daun02 inactivation technique. This approach makes it possible to examine the causal roles of anatomically isolated systems. This research will again compare spatial memory with recognition memory, where appropriate behavioural protocols have been developed in the host laboratory.