Project Description
This project will utilize viral tools to drive the expression of fluorescent reporters and optogenetic or chemogenetic proteins in neurons, regulated by the activity-dependent gene c-fos. Because this gene becomes active in neurons engaged during recent experiences, it enables selective labeling of cells involved in social memory processing. Viral constructs will be injected into the lateral entorhinal cortex through stereotaxic surgery, targeting neural circuits associated with social recognition. After surgery, animals will be placed on a Doxycycline-regulated diet, providing temporal control over gene expression. Neuronal populations will be tagged as mice perform social recognition tasks. Optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulations will then be employed to modulate the activity of these labeled neurons during specific phases of memory formation and retrieval. Behavioral performance differences resulting from neuronal activation or inhibition will be evaluated. Finally, brain tissue will be imaged to visualize and quantify tagged neurons. These analyses will help us identify and characterize the neural ensembles that encode social memory.
Tasks and Responsibilites
Behavioral Work: Setup and conduct behavior tests, manage animal handling, record behavioral observations, and assist with data scoring and interpretation.
Surgical Procedures: Help prepare materials and perform supporting tasks during stereotaxic injections, working under guidance.
Optogenetic/Chemogenetic Support: Contribute to prepping experiments that modulate activity of defined neuronal populations.
Histology & Imaging: Assist in tissue processing, imaging of tagged neurons, and organization/analysis of microscopy results.
Literature Engagement: Read and summarize relevant papers on memory circuits, engram tagging, neural activation methods, and social behavior models.
Lab Integration: Participate in lab discussions, share progress updates, and collaborate with team members to work through experimental challenges.
Desired Qualifications
None listed.