Dynamics of Inhibitory Golgi Interneurons in the Cerebellar Cortex (360G-Wellcome-203734_Z_16_A)

Neural circuits in the brain underlie sensory perception and motor control, functions that are often impaired during neurological disorders. However, many aspects of circuit function remain unclear. These include how sensory and motor information is represented and transformed as it flows through neural circuits. In this project, I will study the properties of Golgi cells, a particular type of inhibitory neuron in the cerebellar cortex, a brain area that helps coordinate movements and predict thier sensory consequences. To do this I will use a new high speed 3-dimensional microscope technology that can measure signals as they rapidly flow through complex neural circuits deep within the brain of mice expressing fluorescence reporters of neural activity. By examining how the activity of populations of inhibitory neurons change during different behavioral tasks and during learning, I will determine how these neurons contribute to information processing in the cerebellum. By combining this imaging method with methods for manipulating neuronal activity and network models of circuit function I will identify the underlying mechanisms. This research will lead to fundamental new insights into cerebellar function and will provide a framework for understanding what goes wrong during neurological disorders.