Projekt

Associative learning is a form of memory formation in the course of which a relatively neutral stimulus is temporally paired with a punishment or a reward. Thereby, the behavioral response to the conditioned stimulus is adjusted to the predicted consequences. This research project analyzes the stimulus encoding and transformative properties of neuronal circuits during such learning. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is used to dissect the neuronal network mediating associative learning, and to visualize synaptic plasticity underlying learning at a single cell level. The analysis focuses on a neuronal network of the insect brain called ?mushroom body". Therefore, in a first phase of the project it is aimed at characterizing anatomically individual cells of intrinsic mushroom body neurons using a sophisticated genetic technique (?MARCM-technique") to restrict the expression of reporter proteins to individual cells. The establishment of that genetic technique has been achieved in collaboration with the partner lab at the Weizman Institute in Rehovot, Israel. An in-detail anatomical characterization has been achieved in the course of our project so far. Since associative olfactory learning is believed to rely on changes in synaptic transmitter release, further genetic fluorescence sensors have been established that can be used to monitor plastic, synaptic changes during the learning process. This type of real-time optical imaging using in vivo two-photon microscopy has been successfully established. The partner lab in Israel will use this technique in the German lab to analyze plasticity of exactly the same neurons, but in the context of developmental plasticity. Overall, the project is progressing successfully through an active interaction of both partner labs.

• Dr. Thomas Riemensperger

  Universität Göttingen
  Johann Friedrich Blumenbach Institut
  Molekulare Neurobiologie des Verhaltens
  Schwann-Schleiden Forschungszentrum
  Göttingen
  

• Oren Schuldiner, Ph.D.

  The Weizmann Institute of Science
  Dept. of Molecular Cell Biology
  Wolfson Building, #504
  Rehovot
  Israel
  

• Prof. Dr. André Fiala

  Universität Göttingen
  Fakultät für Biologie und Psychologie
  Abteilung Molekulare Neurobiologie des Verhaltens
  Göttingen