by Prof. Pascal Fries, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
When: May 16, 2024, at 3:00 pm
Where: Sala Seminari VIMM (Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata Onlus, Via Orus 2, Padova)
Abstract: Brain networks typically engage in rhythmic synchronization, and this might serve functions, e.g. the processing of stimuli. I will show that repeated visual stimuli induce decreasing firing rates yet enhanced gamma-band synchronization, likely to maintain postsynaptic impact. This impact is indeed optimal for gamma-rhythmic inputs, as I will show by controlling inputs with optogenetics. Optogenetics can also be used to control top-down inputs. I will show that this Opto-Top-Down induces strong, up to several fold, changes in gamma-band synchronization together with much smaller changes in firing rate and no correlation between the two effects.