– Encoding of emotionally relevant stimuli in hippocampal circuits –

Abstract: The hippocampus contributes to both cognition and mood, however how it may perform these two functions remains an area of active investigation. In this talk, I will discuss our recent efforts to understand the encoding properties of distinct hippocampal cell types. First, I will present recent work aimed at understanding how granule cells in the dentate gyrus transform representations from the cortex to discriminate between olfactory stimuli. I will show how these representations are related to subsequent fear discrimination, and how these representations change with learning. Then, I will present our recent efforts to understand how distinct, anatomically defined, ventral hippocampal neurons may encode features of anxiety-provoking environments, and control avoidance behavior. These studies will highlight the rich heterogeneity of hippocampal cell types and circuits and reveal novel functional roles for the hippocampus in encoding emotionally relevant stimuli and generating approach and avoidance behaviors.

Mazen KHEIRBEK -Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco

Invited by Robin DARD & Alla SOLOD

Zoom Meeting – Monday, April 12th – 4:30 pm

https://zoom.us/j/96943805189?pwd=RWFja3NGc0FsdlMxK004U2ZQdW4ydz09

ID meeting: 969 4380 5189
Code: 5giDFa