Difference between revisions of "ICLM Journal Club"

From LMP Journal Club

Revision as of 21:17, 3 February 2016

This Week

Katsushi Arisaka

Title: 'Grid Cells among C. Elegans’ 302 Neurons? – Exploring the Origin of Space-Time Perception through Ultra-High Speed Microscopy'

Abstract: Throughout the evolutionary process, organisms have developed remarkably sensitive neurosensory mechanisms in order to effectively navigate a given space-time. However, a fundamental issue lies in the fact that these sensory neurons are only able to detect temporal fluctuations of a given stimuli, without any inherent spatial information. Therefore, in order to navigate space efficiently, the temporal stimuli must be reconciled with spatial information through the integration of signals from motor neuron efferents. Unfortunately, progress in this field has been rather slow and restricted to theoretical models, flowcharts, and unintuitive block diagrams. A practical approach, through the whole-brain investigation of the simplest model organism C. elegans (with 302 neurons), would act to shed light on the process of spatial perception. Consequentially, we have developed innovative, ultra-high speed microscopes to observe the whole-brain activity of C. elegans, while it is freely navigating in 2D or 3D under well-controlled experimental conditions. More than a hundred UCLA undergraduate students have conducted this research over the last two years in form of a science club named the Elegant Mind Club. Our intriguing discoveries and our future directions will be presented.

http://www.cell.com/cell/references/S0092-8674(15)01196-4

http://home.physics.ucla.edu/~arisaka/home/

http://www.elegantmind.org/

About Us

Introduction

The Integrative Center for Learning and Memory (ICLM) is a multidisciplinary center of UCLA labs devoted to understanding the neural basis of learning and memory and its disorders. This will require a unified approach across different levels of analysis, including;

1. Elucidating the molecular cellular and systems mechanisms that allow neurons and synapses to undergo the long-term changes that ultimately correspond to 'neural memories'.

2. Understanding how functional dynamics and computations emerge from complex circuits of neurons, and how plasticity governs these processes.

3. Describing the neural systems in which different forms of learning and memory take place, and how these systems interact to ultimately generate behavior and cognition.

History of ICLM

The Integrative Center for Learning and Memory formally LMP started in its current form in 1998, and has served as a platform for many interactions and collaborations within UCLA. A key event organized by the group is the weekly ICLM Journal Club. For more than 10 years, graduate students, postdocs, principal investigators, and invited speakers have presented on topics ranging from the molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, through computational models of learning, to behavior and cognition. Dean Buonomano oversees the ICLM journal club with help of student/post doctoral organizers. For other events organized by ICLM go to http://www.iclm.ucla.edu/Events.html.

Current Organizers:

Walt Babiec (O'Dell Lab) & Helen Motanis (Buonomano Lab)

Current Faculty Advisor:

Dean Buonomano

Past Organizers:

i) Anna Matynia(Aug 2004 - Jun 2008) (Silva Lab)

ii) Robert Brown (Aug 2008 - Jun 2009) (Balleine Lab)

iii) Balaji Jayaprakash (Aug 2008 - Nov 2011) (Silva Lab)

iv) Justin Shobe & Thomas Rogerson (Dec 2011 - June 2013) (Silva Lab)