Research topic
Despite the strongly integrated nature of cortex (Ctx), cerebellum (Cer), and basal ganglia (BG) (Middleton & Strick, 2000; Bostan et al., 2013), their contribution in affecting behaviour is often studied by considering each area in isolation. Understanding their reciprocal influence could lead to understand in a radically new way how the Ctx-Cer-BG system (and not the single area taken in isolation) affects behaviour. An increasing number of works has recently started to study the role of Cer and BG in functions typically associated with Ctx (Caligiore et al., 2013) or the role of Cer in impairments typically associated with BG as Tourette's (McCairn et al., 2013) and Parkinson's diseases (Wu & Hallet, 2013). Building on these studies, the goal of this research is to build a bio-constrained neural network of the Ctx-Cer-BG system and use it to study how the Ctx-Cer-BG interplay affects psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.
Research specific problems
- Developing a computational model of the Cer.
- Integrating the model of the cerebellum with the BG-Ctx model already developed at LOCEN (Mannella & Baldassarre, submitted)?
- Running simulation with the Ctx-Cer-BG to reproduce data and get predictions about how the Ctx-Cer-BG interplay affects psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases
Research method
- Computer simulations
Requested motivations of the candidate
- Strong interest in the topic and motivation to carry out research on it
- Desire to acquire the knowledge and methods of the group
Requested knowledge of the candidate
- Good programming skills, e.g. in C++, Matlab, Python, etc.
- Basic principles of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the brain
Requested skills of the candidate
- Capacity to read and understand scientific papers in English
- Capacity to contribute to write reports in English
References
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Middleton, F. A., & Strick, P. L. (2000). Basal ganglia and cerebellar loops: motor and cognitive circuits. Brain Research Reviews, 31(2), 236-250.
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Bostan, A. C., Dum, R. P., & Strick, P. L. (2013). Cerebellar networks with the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 17(5), 241-254.
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Caligiore, D., Pezzulo, G., Miall, R. C., & Baldassarre, G. (2013). The contribution of brain sub-cortical loops in the expression and acquisition of action understanding abilities. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 37(10), 2504-2515.
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McCairn, K. W., Bronfeld, M., Belelovsky, K., & Bar-Gad, I. (2009). The neurophysiological correlates of motor tics following focal striatal disinhibition. Brain, 132(8), 2125-2138.
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Wu, T., & Hallett, M. (2013). The cerebellum in Parkinson’s disease. Brain, 136(3), 696-709.
- Mannella, F. & Baldassarre, G (submitted). Selection of cortical dynamics for motor behaviour by the basal ganglia. Submitted to Biological Cybernetics.