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DTSTART:20150329T030000
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DTSTAMP:20260501T201229Z
UID:500404511612f@ist.ac.at
DTSTART:20141103T163000
DTEND:20141103T173000
DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Ralf Schneggenburger\nAbstract: Nerve cells communicat
 e with each other at synapses via the process of chemical synaptic transmi
 ssion. The exact synaptic connectivity in the emerging neuronal networks\,
  and the strength of synaptic transmission between nerve cells determines 
 information flow\, and ultimately\, higher brain function. The specific pr
 operties of synapses are acquired during brain development\, but the under
 lying mechanisms are only beginning to be addressed. Our lab uses a combin
 ation of mouse genetics\, behavioral assays and ex-vivo slice electrophysi
 ology\, to investigate these mechanisms at selected excitatory and inhibit
 ory synapses of the mouse auditory system. Using the calyx of Held\, an un
 usually large excitatory synapse in the auditory brainstem\, we could show
  that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling contributes to the develo
 pment of large synapse size and specific innervation pattern of the postsy
 naptic neurons (Xiao et al. 2013). Second\, we investigate how use-depende
 nt synaptic plasticity at inhibitory synapses might contribute to a plasti
 c period during the development of the auditory cortex. Preliminary data s
 how an unexpectedly large plasticity at inhibitory\, GABAergic output syna
 pses formed by Parvalbumin-expressing cortical interneurons\, and a role o
 f BMP signaling in controlling this plasticity. Together\, our work invest
 igates mechanisms at the boundary between genetically encoded regulatory f
 actors\, and use-dependent synaptic plasticity which shape the specific sy
 naptic connectivity patterns in the mammalian brain.
LOCATION:Raiffeisen Lecture Hall\, Central Building\, ISTA
ORGANIZER:ihetzenauer@ist.ac.at
SUMMARY:Ralf Schneggenburger: Institute Colloquium: Function and specific d
 evelopment of brain synapses
URL:https://talks-calendar.ista.ac.at/events/525
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