SSA: Tactile Discrimination Learning in Mice
Lead Research Organisation:
Cardiff University
Department Name: Sch of Psychology
Abstract
This project tackles an important question in an interdisciplinary context: How does experience with similar stimuli increase the distinctiveness of their memories? This question has been investigated by behavioural scientists in the context of perceptual learning, where animals given simple exposure to similar stimuli (e.g., two textures) will later discriminate between them more readily than between two novel stimuli. It has also been examined by neuroscientists studying the rodent whisker system and experience-based changes in the barrel cortex. This project attempts to understand the brain bases of perceptual learning in rodents using the whisker system.
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/M009122/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
| 1641903 | Studentship | BB/M009122/1 | 01/10/2015 | 30/09/2019 | Nicole Pacchiarini |
| Description | In Vivo Skills Award |
| Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2016 |
| End | 09/2019 |
| Description | Oxford University Autumn School in Cognitive Neuroscience |
| Amount | £200 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Guarantors of Brain |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2016 |
| End | 09/2016 |
| Description | Trainee Professional Development Award |
| Amount | $2,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Society for Neuroscience (SfN) |
| Sector | Learned Society |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 11/2018 |
| End | 11/2019 |
| Description | Soapbox Science Speaker |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Soapbox Science is a public outreach platform for promoting women scientists and the science they carry out. The event aims to transform public areas into an arena for public learning and scientific debate; they follow the format of London Hyde Park's Speaker's Corner. The speakers are not permitted to have props, powerpoint slides and must communicate their science in a manner suitable to a general audience. The events reach a wide range of people with footfall calculated at over 9000 during the 2016 event. The event also recieved a great deal of media attention through different social media channels (Facebook, Twitter), webpage and event pages in the Universities prior to the day, some speakers were also interviewed: BBC Wales Radio, Made in Cardiff TV, Wales Online, ITV news Wales, Capital FM, Heart FM. In addition, during the event there was a lot of live interaction on twitter making @soapbox science a trending topic in #cardiff. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| URL | http://soapboxscience.org/soapbox-science-2016-cardiff/ |