A/Professor Lucy M. Palmer, VIC : "Dynamic activity in cortical dendrites during learning"
Speaker:
A/Professor Lucy M. Palmer,
Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellow
Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne
Title: ""Dynamic activity in cortical dendrites during learning"
One of the great mysteries of neuroscience is how learning alters brain function. Learning can result in memories which can last a lifetime and involve significant changes to the structure and function at the dendritic site of synaptic input. Although it defines us, our knowledge about how, and where, learning occurs is still in its infancy. Therefore, our ability to help patients suffering from debilitating diseases with perturbed learning is compromised. Since they are the site of synaptic input, dendrites, and the spines that reside on them, provide an ideal substrate for the dynamic encoding of information required during learning. Here, I will discuss recent results from my laboratory which investigates the changes in dendritic activity that occur in cortical neurons during learning of a sensory-association task. Using two-photon calcium imaging, we recorded the calcium activity in tracked dendrites from layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons throughout learning. The results from this study illustrate individual dendrites are dynamic, and undergo significant changes in sensory and behavioural-encoding throughout learning.
About Neuroscience Seminars
Neuroscience seminars at the QBI play a major role in the advancement of neuroscience in the Asia-Pacific region. The primary goal of these seminars is to promote excellence in neuroscience through the exchange of ideas, establishing new collaborations and augmenting partnerships already in place.
Seminars in the QBI Auditorium are held on Wednesdays at 12-1pm, which are sometimes simulcast on Zoom (with approval from the speaker). We also occassionally hold seminars from international speakers via Zoom. The days and times of these seminars will vary depending on the time zone of the speaker. Please see each seminar listed below for details.
