Dynamics of cell assemblies underlying adaptive and mal-adaptive memories
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Learning and memory processes rely on the fine coordination of nerve cell activity in several brain regions including the hippocampus and the nucleus accumbens. In this programme we aim to explain how and why nerve activity is organised, not only for understanding normal brain function but also for explaining what goes wrong during memory disorders, including those associating an environment with drugs of abuse. We seek to explain how nerve cells in these brain regions produce accurate patterns of electrical activity that are essential for our memory representations of environments in which salient life events have been experienced. In this work we use cutting edge technologies, ranging from the combined use of rodent behavioural paradigms and brain recordings to light-based manipulation of nerve cell activity. In so doing we place special emphasis on explaining when, why and how special patterns of electrical activity, such as waves or rhythms in different types of nerve cell assist brain operations during normal behaviours. By using light-based tools to experimentally interact with different cell types in these brain circuits we identify patterns of electrical activity that might support abnormal behaviours. In conclusion, this programme of research will allow us to provide novel insights into how nerve cells in the brain coordinate their activity to guide so much of our daily behaviour in both health and disease.
Technical Summary
Memory is central to behaviour, enabling individuals to infer from past experience how to respond to their ever-changing environment. Nonetheless the recall of certain memory representations, such as those of environments where a drug of abuse was experienced, is undesirable as these can impair the individual’s ability to adapt to its environment and therefore put it at risk. In this programme our goal is to provide a mechanistic understanding of how temporally-structured neuronal activity in the brain underlies memory processes. To this end we seek to determine how pyramidal cell-interneuron dynamics underlie the temporal segregation of cell assemblies in the hippocampus for the coordination of the read-in/encoding of new information with the read-out/retrieval of old stored information. We further investigate how downstream network interactions with the nucleus accumbens mediate the guidance of purposeful behaviour by spatio-contextual memories. In this work, we use a number of complementary techniques to monitor and stimulate neuronal activity in the mouse brain during well-defined behaviour. In so doing, our programme will probe temporally patterned manipulations aimed at rebalancing brain dynamics by the selective enhancing, reprogramming or weakening of the cell assemblies providing brain representations of drug/fear-paired environments. This work is intended to provide principles of intervention of brain areas where network dynamics underlie pathophysiology of memories.
Organisations
- University of Oxford (Lead Research Organisation)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS) (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- Heidelberg University (Collaboration)
- Tufts University (Collaboration)
- University of Calgary (Collaboration)
- University of Helsinki (Collaboration)
- École Normale Supérieure, Paris (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
Publications
Trouche S
(2019)
A Hippocampus-Accumbens Tripartite Neuronal Motif Guides Appetitive Memory in Space.
in Cell
Barron HC
(2020)
Neuronal Computation Underlying Inferential Reasoning in Humans and Mice.
in Cell
Clarke-Williams C
(2024)
Coordinating brain-distributed network activities in memory resistant to extinction
in Cell
Barron HC
(2021)
Neural inhibition for continual learning and memory.
in Current opinion in neurobiology
Shpektor A
(2021)
Memory recall involves a transient break in excitatory-inhibitory balance
in eLife
Quinn AJ
(2021)
Within-cycle instantaneous frequency profiles report oscillatory waveform dynamics.
in Journal of neurophysiology
Quinn A
(2021)
EMD: Empirical Mode Decomposition and Hilbert-Huang Spectral Analyses in Python
in Journal of Open Source Software
Trouche S
(2017)
[Illuminating the brain to rewrite a memory representation].
in Medecine sciences : M/S
El-Gaby M
(2021)
An emergent neural coactivity code for dynamic memory.
in Nature neuroscience
Gava GP
(2021)
Integrating new memories into the hippocampal network activity space.
in Nature neuroscience
Related Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Award Value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MC_UU_12024/1 | 31/03/2015 | 30/03/2020 | £3,057,940 | ||
MC_UU_12024/2 | Transfer | MC_UU_12024/1 | 31/03/2015 | 30/03/2020 | £1,597,940 |
MC_UU_12024/3 | Transfer | MC_UU_12024/2 | 31/03/2015 | 30/03/2020 | £1,830,940 |
MC_UU_12024/4 | Transfer | MC_UU_12024/3 | 31/03/2015 | 30/03/2020 | £2,545,940 |
MC_UU_12024/5 | Transfer | MC_UU_12024/4 | 31/03/2015 | 30/03/2020 | £1,287,940 |
Title | Sleep replay for memory consolidation |
Description | A movie explaining how new memories are stabilised in the brain |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Impact | Increasing public knowledge about why sleep is a critical period for the consolidation of newly-acquired memories |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USVDXlWQfRE |
Title | tSC cover |
Description | Front cover of issue in Neuron. 2018 Nov 21;100(4):940-952.e7 |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Impact | Increase the visibility of scientific discovery |
URL | https://www.cell.com/neuron/issue?pii=S0896-6273(17)X0023-8 |
Description | Animal Welfare and Ethics in Research |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | Data management and sharing in research |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | Increase in best practice and knowledge related to the curing, sioring and sharing of scientific data |
Description | Eco-friendly research |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | We are assembling a European Network of research scientists from the field of Life sciences to assess ways to implement sustainable research. |
Description | Knowledge transfer about research practice with the scientific council of the French Embassy in London |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Description | Public Outreach Committee |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Research staff is being trained to share their knowledge to the general public, and notably to discuss animal related work in medical research. Notably, this allows changing public attitudes towards how scientific research is delivered and the use of animals in research. |
Description | UK-France MD-PhD partnership |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | BBSRC research grant responsive mode |
Amount | £344,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/N0059TX/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2016 |
End | 04/2020 |
Description | BBSRC research grant responsive mode |
Amount | £735,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/N002547/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2017 |
End | 01/2020 |
Description | IBRO-PERC and The Brain Prize stipend to Mr Gido Van de ven |
Amount | £1,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO) |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | Global |
Start | 03/2017 |
End | 04/2017 |
Description | John Fell Fund to Dr Helen Barron |
Amount | £16,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 153/046 |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | John Fell Fund |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2016 |
End | 03/2018 |
Description | NASARD Young Investigator Grant to Dr Stephanie Trouche |
Amount | $70,000 (USD) |
Funding ID | 1602CJ001/VC2 |
Organisation | Brain & Behaviour Research Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start | 01/2016 |
End | 06/2016 |
Description | Oxford-McGill-ZNZ Partnership in Neuroscience |
Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | John Fell Fund |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2018 |
End | 07/2018 |
Title | Analytical framework for the identification of brain network states from electrophysiological data |
Description | Development of a statistical framework to reveal hidden brain states featured by network oscillations |
Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Identification of short-lived transient brain states with distinct power and functional connectivity (e.g., coherence). |
Title | Closed-loop brain-machine interface for the in-vivo modulation of memory consolidation |
Description | Development of an optogenetic closed-loop interface to manipulate in-vivo the neuronal activity during the short-lived sharp-wave/ripple oscillatory events |
Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - mammalian in vivo |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Identification of a brain circuit mechanism underpinning memory consolidation |
URL | http://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/publications/hippocampal-offline-reactivation-consolidates-recently-form... |
Title | Genetic construct for Cre-dependent expression of Flp recombinase pAAV-EF1a-DIO-FLPo-Myc |
Description | This genetic construct generated in my laboratory allows users to express the recombinase Flp conditioned to the expression of the recombinase Cre. This construct is used for cell-type-selective optogenetic manipulation of nerve cells in the mammalian brain. |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This construct has allowed to identify the neural pathway supporting the behavioral expression of appetitive memories in the adult mammalian brain (https://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/publications/hippocampus-accumbens-tripartite-neuronal-motif-guides-appetitive-memory-space). This construct is available at Addgene (see URL below). |
URL | https://www.addgene.org/124641/ |
Title | Genetic construct for Cre-dependent expression of optogenetic silence ArchT pAAV-EF1a-FDIO-ArchT-GFP |
Description | This genetic construct generated in my laboratory allows users to express the neuronal silencer ArchT conditioned to the expression of the recombinase Flp. This construct is used for cell-type-selective optogenetic silencing of selective nerve cells in the mammalian brain. |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This construct has allowed to identify the neural pathway supporting the behavioral expression of appetitive memories in the adult mammalian brain (https://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/publications/hippocampus-accumbens-tripartite-neuronal-motif-guides-appetitive-memory-space). |
URL | https://www.addgene.org/124640/ |
Title | Optogenetic viral constructs to recode a memory representation |
Description | Generation of adeno-associated viral tools that target specific subsets of neurons to manipulate them via in vivo-light delivery and thereby to dissect brain circuit mechanisms of memory processes |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Discovery that optogenetic silencing of neurons representing a spatial environment paired with drug abuse allows alleviating drug-seeking behaviour (Trouche et al, Nature Neuroscience 2016) |
URL | http://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/publications/recoding-cocaine-place-memory-engram-neutral-engram-hippoca... |
Title | analytical tool for network oscillations using Empirical Mode Decomposition |
Description | A set of Python programs to extract frequency content of network oscillations |
Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This toolbox allows identifying non-linear and non-stationary oscillatory components of complex signals. |
URL | https://pypi.org/project/emd/ |
Title | theta-nested spectral components |
Description | A software and associated data-set to provide an analytical framework to reveal spectral components of theta-band brain waves |
Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Analytical tool to identify transient spectral components nested in theta cycles |
URL | https://data.mrc.ox.ac.uk/data-set/tsc |
Title | Code used for analysis of task-relevant, time-resolved functional Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (fMRS) |
Description | This package contains code for Preprocessing of fMRS data (matlab), fsl_mrs code for simulations of fMRS data (python), Code for analysis of behavioural data (matlab), Code to assess relationship between fMRI and fMRS data (matlab) and Plotting functions |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This package allows scientists to study and analyse functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy |
URL | https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:4ff5cd17-a794-4f85-8666-b07de85d2301 |
Title | Code used for analysis of task-relevant, time-resolved functional Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (fMRS) |
Description | This package contains code for: Preprocessing of fMRS data (matlab), fsl_mrs code for simulations of fMRS data (python), Code for analysis of behavioural data (matlab), Code to assess relationship between fMRI and fMRS data (matlab) and Plotting functions. |
Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This research dataset and codes allow scientists to analyse functional Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy acquired in humans. |
URL | https://data.mrc.ox.ac.uk/data-set/frms-code |
Title | Combined fMRI-fMRS dataset in an inference task in humans |
Description | This dataset consists of the following components: fMRI data showing group maps for contrasts of interest (nifti) raw fMRS data of 19 subjects (dicom) preprocessed fMRS data of 19 subjects, preprocessed in MRspa (mat) behavioural data from inference task during MRI scan (mat) behavioural data from associative test post MRI scan (mat) Participants performed a three-stage inference task across three days. On day 1 participants learned up to 80 auditory-visual associations. On day 2, each visual cue was paired with either a rewarding (set 1, monetary reward) or neutral outcome (set 2, woodchip). On day 3, auditory cues were presented in isolation ('inference test'), without visual cues or outcomes, and we measured evidence for inference from the auditory cues to the appropriate outcome. Participants performed the inference test in an MRI scanner where fMRI-fMRS data was acquired. After the MRI scan, participants completed a surprise associative test for auditory-visual associations learned on day 1. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This dataset allows studying neural mechanisms of inferential reasonning in humans |
URL | https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:6ce36198-7b7f-4cbf-9261-d18931ac460c |
Title | Detection of cell assemblies |
Description | Development and refinement of analytical tools to detect coordinated neuronal activity forming functional cell assemblies |
Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Validation to the behavioural relevance of short time-scale hippocampal assembly-patterns |
Title | Instantaneous frequency profiles of theta cycles |
Description | This dataset contains the local field potentials recorded from 10 tetrodes located in the mouse dorsal CA1 hippocampus and the simultaneous movement tracking data for two recording sessions, from each of three mice. There are three subdirectories, each containing four datafiles: two raw 64-channel .eeg files (binary file; 1,250Hz sampling; hence, sample interval is 800 microsecs) and two .whl files (text file; 39.0625Hz sampling; an ordered list of X,Y locations of the animal; 2-column format). All data recordings are made during open field exploration. The data runs ending with *_2.eeg and *_2.whl correspond to exploration of a familiar environment and the runs ending with *_5.eeg/*_6.eeg and *_5.whl/*_6.whl correspond to exploration of a novel environment. Each subfolder contains two meta-data files. A .desel file that reports the location of each tetrode. In this dataset a value of '1' indicates CA1; 'cx' indicates cortex. A .par file that describes the acquisition parameters of the dataset, the correspondence between individual channels and tetrodes (max 4 channels per tetrode), and the list of whitelisted channels suitable for further analysis. A commented example of a par file is below (though the actual files do not contain comments) |
Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This package provides a novel technique to assess oscillatory dynamics in brain networks |
URL | https://data.mrc.ox.ac.uk/data-set/instantaneous-frequency-profiles-theta-cycles |
Title | Large-scale recordings of brain network activity |
Description | Electrophysiological dataset of parallel recordings of multiple neurons from the rodent brain |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Identification that neuronal activity in the rodent brain follow scale-free power-law dynamics |
Title | Topological analysis of hippocampal CA1 co-firing graphs |
Description | This package allows applying a novel technique from graph-theory to neuronal networks. In the dataset provided, each matrix contains the hippocampal CA1 co-firing graphs computed using the spike trains of pyramidal cells recorded from mice during active exploratory behaviour (i.e., excluding immobility epochs and sharp-wave/ripples) in four different tasks: (i) conditioned place preference (CPP), (ii) exploration of a novel context (without reward), (iii) spontaneous place preference (SPP) for a novel context and (iv) rewarded exploration of an otherwise familiar context (without CPP). In these co firing graphs, each node represents one cell; the edge linking any two nodes represents the coactivity of that cell pair, with a weight computed as the Pearson correlation coefficient between their spike trains. Each co-firing graph is defined by its adjacency matrix, whose elements are the edges of the graph / co-firing relationships between pairs of neurons indexed by the rows and columns of the matrix. For each matrix, the code provided (python 3.6) analyses the co-firing relationships among pyramidal cells for the 6 sessions recorded on that task day. Graph-theoretical measures are obtained for each co-firing graph (one graph per task session) and their dynamics across the 6 task sessions are analysed. See the paper 'Integrating new memories into the hippocampal network activity space' for description of the task and detailed methods. Notably, these example co-firing graphs and codes relate to figures 1, 2 and extended data figure 2. |
Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This package allows applying a novel technique from graph-theory to neuronal networks. |
URL | https://data.mrc.ox.ac.uk/data-set/topological-analysis-hippocampal-ca1-co-firing-graphs |
Title | hippocampal theta oscillations |
Description | Codes and electrophysiological data-set to reveal transient spectral components of hippocampal theta oscillations |
Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Changes the way the community analyse brain waves associated with memory functions |
URL | https://data.mrc.ox.ac.uk/data-set/tsc |
Description | Brain and behavioral dynamics of social interaction |
Organisation | École Normale Supérieure, Paris |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My laboratory is providing expertise in brain network physiology linked to social behaviour |
Collaborator Contribution | My collaborator is providing expertise in theoretical modelling of social dynamics |
Impact | This collaboration is multidisplinary, including experts in statistical physics and brain network physiology |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Cross-hemisphere plasticity |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My laboratory is providing expertise in in vivo brain network electrophysiology to understand contingency learning and dynamic retrieval of short-lived memories. |
Collaborator Contribution | My collaborator is providing expertise in ex- vivo synaptic plasticity to understand contingency learning |
Impact | Scientific findings currently reported in a pre-print publication: An Emergent Neural Coactivity Code for Dynamic Memory. Mohamady El-Gaby, Hayley M Reeve, Vítor Lopes-dos-Santos, Natalia Campo-Urriza, Pavel V Perestenko, István Lukács, Ole Paulsen, David Dupret. bioRxiv 776195; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/776195 |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Cross-species neuroscience |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My team is providing expertise in microcircuit neuroscience to understand memory processing in the human brain |
Collaborator Contribution | My collaborators are providing expertise in macroscale analysis of human brain activity during memory |
Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary and cross-species, including humans and rodents to understand memory-based inferential reasoning. Outputs: Barron HC, Mars RB, Dupret D, Lerch J, Sampaio-Baptista C. Cross-species neuroscience: closing the explanatory gap. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2021 Jan 4;376(1815):20190633 Barron HC, Reeve HM, Koolschijn RS, Perestenko PV, Shpektor A, Nili H, Rothaermel R, Campo-Urriza N, O'Reilly JX, Bannerman DM, Behrens TEJ and Dupret D. Neuronal computation underlying inferential reasoning in humans and mice. Cell. 2020 Oct 1;183(1):228-243. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Molecular tagging of memory-bearing neurons |
Organisation | Tufts University |
Department | Department of Neuroscience |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Using a tetTAG technology we labelled brain nece cells holding a memory representation of an environment paired with drug abuse. By controlling these tagged neurons, we have managed to alleviate the expression of a drug-place behaviour. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr Reijmers provided the c-fos-tTA mouse line to implement the tetTAG technology. |
Impact | One peer-reviewed research article published: Nat Neurosci. 2016 Feb 22. doi: 10.1038/nn.4250. Recoding a cocaine-place memory engram to a neutral engram in the hippocampus. Trouche S, Perestenko PV, van de Ven GM, Bratley CT, McNamara CG, Campo-Urriza N, Black SL, Reijmers LG, Dupret D. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Role of SWR in memory consolidation |
Organisation | Heidelberg University |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Interactive collaborative work to develop a closed loop interface to detect sharp wave/ripple events from the local field potential. This technology provides proof of principle for closed-loop manipulation of the neuronal representation of a memory trace. |
Collaborator Contribution | Interactive collaborative work to develop a closed loop interface to detect sharp wave/ripple events from the local field potential |
Impact | One peer-reviewed research article published: Hippocampal Offline Reactivation Consolidates Recently Formed Cell Assembly Patterns during Sharp Wave-Ripples. van de Ven GM, Trouche S, McNamara CG, Allen K, Dupret D. 2016. Neuron, 92(5): 968-974. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Study of neuronal cell assembly formation using information theory |
Organisation | Imperial College London |
Department | Department of Bioengineering |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | To provide large-scale recordings of brain neuronal activity during memory tasks and expertise in brain network dynamics Our team will develop innovative analytical tool to estimate information content of neuronal assemblies |
Collaborator Contribution | To develop analytical tools from the field of information theory |
Impact | - Development of a innovative analytical framework to study the formation of mnemonic cell assemblies |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Study of scale-free neuronal dynamics |
Organisation | University of Helsinki |
Department | Neuroscience Center |
Country | Finland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The Dupret Lab is providing datasets of brain recordings of multi-neurons activity and expertise in network electrophysiology This work is revealing how the brain optimizes information processing capacities while avoiding chaotic instability |
Collaborator Contribution | The partner is providing analytical tools based on scale-free dynamics from the field of physics |
Impact | - Discovery that both brain neuronal activity and memory-guided behaviours are statistically governed by spatio-temporal power-laws (similar to those governing avalanches). |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | hippocampal network physiology in the human brain |
Organisation | National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS) |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | In this collaboration, my laboratory is deploying expertise in brain network dynamics to analyse neural dynamics in the human hippocampus. Notably, we use state-of-the-art spectral decomposition of the local field potentials recorded from the human brain during memory tasks where participants use their memory abilities to draw conclusions. |
Collaborator Contribution | My collaborators are collecting the data at the hospital, running the memory task and brain recordings with the human participants. |
Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary and cross-species: this project combines in vivo brain electrophysiology and medicine; rodents and humans. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | neural dynamics in AD |
Organisation | University College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | In this collaboration, my laboratory is deploying expertise in brain networks to reveal dysfunctional neural dynamics in Alzheimer Disease. Notably, we use state-of-the-art spectral decomposition of the local field potentials recorded from the brain during memory tasks where participants use their ability to continually learn new information to adjust their behaviour on a moment-by-moment basis. |
Collaborator Contribution | My collaborators are providing expertise in the neurobiological basis of AD pathology. |
Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary and cross-species, allowing to combine multiple techniques (molecular biology, electrophysiology, imaging, medicine) to assess early biomarkers of AD onset in humans and rodents. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | neuromorphic chips |
Organisation | University of Calgary |
Country | Canada |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My laboratory is providing electrophysiological recording datasets of the spiking activity from hippocampal neurons during memory tasks to inform the design of novel neuromorphic chips. |
Collaborator Contribution | My colleague is providing the theoretical models and hard-ware implementation of the biologically-informed neuromorphic chips. |
Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary, being at the nexus of neuroscience, machine learning and engineering. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | spectral analyses toolbox |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity (OHBA) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My laboratory is providing expertise in brain network physiology and electrophysiological recording datasets of brain nerve cell activity during memory tasks. These datasets are used to develop and test innovative analytical frameworks of network oscillations. |
Collaborator Contribution | My collaborators are developing and implementing the analytical frameworks for spectral decomposition of network oscillations. |
Impact | A toolbox has been released: https://pypi.org/project/emd/ |
Start Year | 2019 |
Title | Closed-loop manipulation of memory representation during off-line epochs |
Description | The research described how to implement a closed-loop neuronal silencing of memory representations from the on-the-fly-detection of sharp wave/ripples network events |
IP Reference | |
Protection | Copyrighted (e.g. software) |
Year Protection Granted | 2016 |
Licensed | Yes |
Impact | Has open new perspectives into ways to interfere with the neuronal underpinning of a memory trace |
Title | AAV genetic constructs |
Description | DNA sequence allowing the expression of optogenetic silencer under the control of the tetracycline responsive element |
Type Of Technology | New Material/Compound |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Impact | Using this construct, our team has been able to silence the subset of neurons holding a representation of an environment paired with drug abuse in order to alleviate the expression of a drug-place behaviour |
URL | http://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/publications/recoding-cocaine-place-memory-engram-neutral-engram-hippoca... |
Title | Real-time detection of memory consolidation events in sleep |
Description | Brain-machine interface for the real-time detection of sharp-wave/ripples events during which memory consolidation occurs |
Type Of Technology | Detection Devices |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Impact | Identification of the brain state responsible for the consolidation of new memories |
Description | Featuring the brain in a museum exhibition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Research staff contributed to a large and new exhibition held at the Banbury Museum & Gallery (Oxforshire) by providing microscopic images to illuminate in beautiful details the circuits and cells of the mammalian brain. The exhibition, entitled "Your Amazing Brain: A User's Guide", ran from 12th February to 5th June 2022 and was an interactive, family-friendly experience offering the public an opportunity to journey inside the brain and discover more about what makes the brain so special. The Unit's images formed the core of a gallery piece "Zoom into your brain" that showcases, at increasing magnification, the organisation of the brain into regions, different types of neurons, and specialised structures such as axons, dendrites, and synaptic connections. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.banburymuseum.org/events/your-amazing-brain/ |
Description | General public seminar about brain and memory |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I discussed recent advances in the field of memort to the general public, annswering all questions from the audience. This event has allowed to clarify to the general public recent advances in the field of memory. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.seh.ox.ac.uk/events/fellowship-lunchtime-lectures-professor-david-dupret |
Description | Generating Genius School Visit during MRC Festival Week (commencing week 20 June 2016) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Generating Genius, http://www.generatinggenius.org.uk/ a charity that works with high-achieving secondary school students from disadvantaged backgrounds to help them acquire the skills they need to win places on STEM courses at top universities. 22 Students from two schools attended the open day on 22 June 2016. A group of bright GCSE students from the pre-16 strand of the programme called Junior Genius. A range of hands-on practical sessions, lab tours and talks will be run by Unit members at all levels to provide the children with an insight into the nature and benefits of medical/brain research, and inspire them to pursue a career in science. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.generatinggenius.org.uk/ |
Description | Locked-in: science on screen |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I joined a group of University of Oxford neuroscientists for a film screening and discussion about The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, the true story of a former Elle editor, Jean-Dominique Bauby. Briefly, a major stroke leaves Bauby almost entirely paralysed, with the exception of his left eye. Bauby uses the experience to redeem himself for his less than exemplary life. In this event, I discussed the film's premise that consciousness is at the core of humanity and discussed scientific knowledge about locked-in syndrome, stroke and brain plasticity. This event contributed to the 2021 Oxford Science+ideas Festival (9-26October 2021), which comprised of 36 online and 67 face-to-face events with covid measures in place; a total of 35,000 people engaged with on-demand or live contents including 6,500 who came to 20 Oxford venues with 1.4 million social media users. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://if-oxford.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IF-2021-PROGRAMME.pdf |
Description | MRC Festival School Visit to St Ebbes Primary School (15 June 2018) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Myself and Stephen McHugh from my group together with other group members from Magill group - Paul Dodson, Ben Micklem, Julien Carponcy, Luke Bryden, from Sharott group - Abbey Becker, Brown Group - Petra Fishcer, Jean DeBarros and Unit members - Savita Anderson and Hayriye Cagnan returned to St Ebbe's C. of E. (Aided) Primary School in central Oxford, where they visited Year 6 pupils (~50 students) and their teachers to help them learn more about science, scientists, and how the brain works to control memory and movement. Pupils were first given a brief introduction to the work of the Medical Research Council and the MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit. Pupils, teachers and Unit members then engaged in a range of hands-on activities that included looking at nerve cells under a microscope, reporting on observations by making model cells, measuring electrical activity from muscles to control a robotic claw, comparing the brains of different vertebrates, discovering different types of memories, and using a game version of a brain-machine interface. The Unit's visit to the school was one of many public engagement events led by the Medical Research Council and held across the country from 17th-24th June 2018 as part of the MRC Festival of Medical Research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/news |
Description | MRC Festival School Visit to St Ebbes Primary School (19 June 2019) (Dupret) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | On 19th June, Dr David Dupret and team of Unit members (Charlie Clarke-Williams, Gabrielle Leinhard (visiting student), and members from Magill/Sharott/Brown labs) went to St Ebbe's C. of E. (Aided) Primary School in central Oxford, where they visited Year 6 pupils and their teachers to help them learn more about science, researchers, and how the brain works to control memory and movement. Pupils were first given a brief introduction to the work of the Medical Research Council and the MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit. Pupils, teachers and Unit members then engaged in a range of interactive discussions and hands-on activities that included looking at nerve cells under a microscope, reporting on observations by making model cells, measuring electrical activity from muscles to control a robotic claw, comparing the brains of different vertebrates, discovering different types of memories, and using a game version of a brain-machine interface. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/news/unit-goes-out-local-primary-school-mrc-festival-medical-research |
Description | MRC Festival School Visit to St Ebbes Primary School (22 June 2017) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | On 22nd June 2017, I led a team of Unit members to visit Year 4 pupils and their teachers at St Ebbe's C. of E. (Aided) Primary School. Attended from my group were Stephen McHugh, Vadim Koren and Helen Barron including members from Brown and Magill groups. The purpose of the visit was to help students to learn more about science, scientists, and how the brain works to control memory and movement. Pupils were first given a brief introduction to the work of the Medical Research Council and the MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit. Pupils, teachers and Unit members then engaged in a range of hands-on activities that included looking at nerve cells under a microscope, reporting on observations by making model cells, measuring electrical activity from muscles to control a robotic claw, comparing the brains of different vertebrates, discovering different types of memories, and using a game version of a brain-machine interface. In all these activities, the guiding motto was "See - Do - Report", an approach devised by the Unit to mirror the "Concrete - Pictorial - Abstract" method that the pupils use in their maths classes. The Unit's visit to the school was one of many public engagement events led by the Medical Research Council and held across the country from 17th-25th June 2017 as part of the MRC Festival of Medical Research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/news?page=7 |
Description | Participation to the Departmental Animal Welfare meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Promote best practice in scientific research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | STEM placement scheme |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Year-12 students were offerred one week lab experience to discover the world of scientific research and academia |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | STEM placements for local school pupils (in2science) - August 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Hosted 5 pupils from 4 local schools in Oxford. The placement scheme hosted at the Unit was a first for Oxford, and was tailored for pupils from local state-funded schools to support their progress into university degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). During their time in the Unit, the pupils worked alongside Unit scientists and received personalised mentoring to gain a wide variety of practical experiences and learn more about key concepts and challenges in neuroscience and medical research. In a series of integrated workshops with in2scienceUK, the pupils also received guidance on university applications, wider information about STEM careers, and training in transferable skills. The pupils recorded their experiences and progress in blogs and images. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/news |
Description | STEM placements for local school pupils (in2science) - August 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | A group of 5 students from local schools within the Oxfordshire area was enrolled on a 2-week programme (non-residential) during which they were given: - Personalised mentoring from scientists - Opportunities to gain a wide variety of practical experiences as well as exposure to key concepts and challenges in research - Integrated workshops with in2scienceUK, where the pupils receive guidance on university applications, wider information about STEM careers, and training in transferable skills. In2science partners with academic institutions to give sixth-form students from low income backgrounds the opportunity to work alongside STEM scientists, with a view to inspiring/coaching them to get into top universities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://in2scienceuk.org |
Description | School Open Day - 16 March 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 120 GCSE/A level students from 8 local schools within Oxfordshire area attended the school open day. A range of hands-on practical sessions, lab tours and talks ran by Unit members at all levels to provide the children with an insight into the nature and benefits of medical/brain research, and inspire them to pursue a career in science. Also in attendance were local County Cllr Lorraine Lindsay-Gale , City Councillors Pat Kennedy and Louise Upton. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/news |
Description | School Open Day - 17 March 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 140 GCSE/A level students from 12 local schools within Oxfordshire area attended the school open day. A range of hands-on practical sessions, lab tours and talks ran by Unit members at all levels to provide the children with an insight into the nature and benefits of medical/brain research, and inspire them to pursue a career in science. Also in attendance were local Oxfordshire MP (Rt. Hon Mr Andrew Smith) and Councillor (Mr Bob Price) attended the school open day. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/outreach |
Description | School visit - Work experience |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | A group of 5 students from local schools within Oxforsdshire area spent two weeks in the Unit to gain work experience. A range of activities was arranged for them. During this period, the students were able to observe, participate in and learn about research science; Gain insight into scientific techniques and methods; Get exposure to a University environment, scientists, PhD students, and professors; Develop self-confidence, verbal and written communication skills In2Science, http://in2scienceuk.org/ partners with academic institutions to give sixth-form students from low income backgrounds the opportunity to work alongside STEM scientists, with a view to inspiring/coaching them to get into top universities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://in2scienceuk.org/ |
Description | Schools Open Day - 15 March 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 70 GCSE/A level students from 6 local schools within Oxfordshire area attended the school open day. A range of hands-on practical sessions, lab tours and talks ran by Unit members at all levels to provide the children with an insight into the nature and benefits of medical/brain research, and inspire them to pursue a career in science. Also in attendance were the Mrs Jean Fooks - Lord Mayor of Oxford, Cllr Chris Wright - Chair of Garsington Parish Council and Cllr Elizabeth Gillespie - South Oxfordshire District Council. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/news |
Description | Science in Your world |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | various activities to discover how nerve cells in the brain communicate |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Soapbox Art and Science - July 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | On 1st July 2017, my research scientist Dr. Helen Barron took her research to the streets of Oxford as part of an outreach event run in partnership with Soapbox Science, a novel public engagement platform that focuses on promoting women scientists and the science they do. The event paired scientists with artists, encouraging them to work together to communicate challenging scientific concepts in new and exciting ways. A public space within Oxford was transformed into an arena where members of the public could take the opportunity to learn from, interact with, and question the scientists. Helen worked with musician Natasha Zielazinski and, together, they used music and song to communicate how memories are stored in the brain and expressed at the time of recall. Helen's descriptions of her own research were interleaved with musical sessions in which audience members were invited to play the part of 'neurons'. As neurons, the audience members used clapping and song to transfer information between themselves. This illustrated how electrical signals are passed between neurons, but also showed how ensembles of neurons can work together to support memory. Helen commented "The event was great fun - it provided an opportunity for me to explore novel ways to communicate my research to the general public. Our audience were eager to hear about neuroscience research, to ask questions, and engage in debate. Soapbox Science events such as this one provide a great platform to raise the profile of female scientists, and I would encourage other scientists to get on a soapbox and try it for themselves!" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/news?page=6 |
Description | The Research Expo |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Event organised to present current scientific research to university students from all disciplines |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.seh.ox.ac.uk/about-college/st-edmund-hall-research-expo-2015 |
Description | Training Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Series of talks to present scientific careers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/news/unit-holds-its-first-training-and-careers-development-event |
Description | Workshop entitled "Getting Started in Academia" - March 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | On 5th April 2018, my Postdoctoral Researcher Dr. Mohamady El-Gaby recently extended the Unit's work in widening access and participation (WAP) through taking part in the inaugural National Muslim Student Research Conference, organized by the Federation of Student Islamic Societies, and held at St Anthony's College, Oxford. The conference aimed to promote Muslim engagement in academic research, through showcasing research across multiple disciplines and promoting interactions between students and professional academics. Mohamady led a workshop entitled "Getting Started in Academia", which covered routes into academic research, admission to graduate courses (including Ph.D.), and early career development. Mohamady also contributed to a panel discussion on the experiences of Muslims early in their academic careers. This event also saw the launch of a Muslim Graduate Network, which has already resulted in cross-disciplinary collaborations such as those bringing together neuroscience, artificial intelligence and philosophy. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/news?page=3 |