Towards a circuit-specific cartography and molecular fingerprinting of synaptic plasticity

by Prof. Marco Mainardi, University of Padua

When: January 30, 2025, at 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari VIMM (Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata Onlus, Via Orus 2, Padova)

Abstract: Information storage in the brain, as well as adaptation of neural circuits to external stimuli, rely on restless rearrangement of synaptic connections. Moreover, synapses adjust their strength by varying their molecular composition. Despite the obvious importance of these phenomena, the use of specific tools to study them has been sporadic. Appropriate genetically encoded reporters and probes can help to fill this gap in terms of both imaging and determination of the molecular composition of synapses.

During my talk, I will discuss my most recent effort in this regard, which are based on the in vivo use of recombinant proteins for synapse visualization and for the isolation of the synaptome in specific activation states.

By using behavioral paradigms of hippocampus-dependent learning, my results contribute to elucidate whether specific hotspots for synaptic plasticity exist and to determine the changes in the molecular composition of synapses that support learning and memory.

2025-01-30 – Marco Mainardi

PNRR Cascading Grant: PNC Project INSIGHTS funded

The PNC Project INSIGHTS has been awarded (PNRR Cascading Grant) within the Research and Innovation Program titled “MNESYS” (ref. PE00000006) and it is funded by the European Union in the framework of PNRR NextGenerationEU Project.

The Project MNESYS, as a whole, aims at developing new approaches for experimental and clinical neuroscience to enable personalized and predictive precision medicine relevant to the neurological system and behaviour. The project integrates medicine, biology, technology, and computational data to deeply understand some of the key aspects of the functioning of the nervous system.

Full information about the Project MNESYS is available at https://mnesys.eu.

 

Theoretical neuroscience: the geometry and dynamics of behavior, cognition, and learning

Speaker: Prof. Luca Mazzucato (Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, USA)

When: 11 December 2024, h. 5:30 pm

Where: 1AD100, Torre Archimede

Abstract: Recent years have brought tremendous progress in the fields of artificial intelligence and neuroscience, however, a comprehensive framework to explain the computational principles of complex cognitive function and flexible behavior is still lacking. Addressing the complexity within large-scale, multi-area neuronal recordings with simultaneous monitoring of behavioral variables demands novel and deeper connections between the different axes of theoretical neuroscience. In this talk, I will review current approaches and highlight challenges in the upcoming NeuroAI field with particular focus on the following questions: i) What kind of dynamical systems can explain the complex spatiotemporal features of naturalistic animal behavior? ii) What new physical ingredients should recurrent neural networks incorporate to explain the richness observed in large-scale neural activity during behavior? iii) What is the geometry of neural representations in animal brains and how is it related to the geometry of deep learning? Finally, I will show some recent work in my lab showing how the optimal cognitive function known as the Yerkes-Dodson law of psychology relies on a phase transition occurring in sensory cortical circuits.

2024-12-11 – Luca Mazzucato

Rhythms, entrainment, prediction, and repetition: what is special about language and the brain?

by Prof. Francesco Vespignani, University of Padova

When: November 28, 2024, at 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari VIMM (Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata Onlus, Via Orus 2, Padova)

Abstract: Cognitive science of language has been dominated for decades by innatism based on generative grammar theory. More recent years have seen a renaissance of models based on (statistical) learning only, leading to positions which I dub neo-behavioralist. These positions are recently even more popular, partially boosted by recent developments of AI large language models. Within this debate, prediction and sensitivity to rhythmicity and regularities of language play a significant role in models of language processing, tightly linked to theories of system neurosciences. I will present some of my current research on prediction, repetition, and entrainment in language processing at the sentence level. I will also try to persuade the audience that it is time to abandon strict ideological position on nature/nurture dualism.

2024-11-28 – Francesco Vespignani

Harnessing light in deep brain regions for multimodal optical neural recordings through thin fiber probes

by Dr. Filippo Pisano, University of Padova

When: November 14, 2024, at 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari VIMM (Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata Onlus, Via Orus 2, Padova)

Abstract: Over the past two decades, a versatile technological framework combining optical methods with genetically encoded molecular reporters has opened unprecedented opportunities for monitoring neural activity in the living mouse brain. These advancements have been accompanied by a growing awareness that a comprehensive investigation of brain function must account for the brain’s multifaceted complexity, including biomolecular changes associated with physiological and pathological dynamics. This seminar will explore the opportunities afforded by a broader perspective on light-brain interactions, presenting a methodology for low-invasive, label-free optical spectroscopy in deep brain regions. This approach can complement existing techniques towards a more complete understanding of neural mechanisms, with potential applications in both fundamental and translational research.

2024-11-14 – Filippo Pisano

 

Focus on Ca2+ signaling dysregulation in astrocytes in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease

by Dr. Micaela Zonta, CNR Neuroscience Institute

When: October 31, 2024, at 3:00 pm

Where: Aula RI (Complesso Vallisneri, Viale Colombo 3, Padova)

Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic, incurable neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by progressive memory loss. Despite the advances in the research on neurodegenerative diseases, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis and the early events that anticipate the cognitive decline remain poorly understood.

Our research evaluates the involvement of astrocytes in AD pathogenesis, focusing on astrocyte Ca2+ signaling and its dysregulation during AD progression. Indeed, the widely recognized evidence that brain function requires dynamic interactions between neurons and astrocytes implies that both cell types can contribute to brain dysfunction.

We employ two-photon microscopy to perform Ca2+ imaging experiments in brain slices and in vivo preparations of somatosensory cortex (SSCx) astrocytes expressing GCaMP6f, and electrophysiological monitoring to assess the efficiency of long-term memory processes. We describe significant alterations in astrocyte activity in the familial AD model PS2APP, as well as in astrocyte-dependent long-term plasticity and reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying Ca2+ dysregulation. Most importantly, we describe a genetic strategy to rescue astrocyte signals and synaptic plasticity.

Our data identify the dysregulation of astrocyte Ca2+ activity as a functional hallmark of early AD stages, revealing a new target to recover AD symptoms.

2024-10-31 – Micaela Zonta

Soprano: lo spettacolo del cervello

When: October 24 (Thursday), 2024, at 8:45 pm and October 27 (Sunday), 2024, at 5:00 pm

Where: Sala dei Giganti (Thursday) and Chiesa di San Francesco, Padova (Sunday)

Abstract: Within the project “Soprano: lo spettacolo del cervello”, on Thursday, 24 October, at 8:45 pm at the Sala dei Giganti the Orchestra Asclepio will perform the concert Quando la musica diventa cura, while the second concert La musica del cervello will take place on Sunday, 27 October, at 5 pm, at the Chiesa di San Francesco, Padova.

Both the events are free of charge, but registration is required:

Link: https://ilbolive.unipd.it/it/event/mondo-salute/musica-cervello?amp a

Circuits of Emotion Recognition

by Dr. Francesco Papaleo, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy

When: October 17, 2024, at 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari VIMM (Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata Onlus, Via Orus 2, Padova)

Abstract: The way we perceive, process, and react to others’ emotional states (Emotion Recognition) is at the core of all animal interactions, playing a central role not only in our daily lives and well-being, but also in shaping societies. Determining the mechanisms underpinning emotion recognition will significantly advance our understanding of how individuals engage with others and the role of the social brain in health and disease. We recently developed and validated a series of innovative paradigms for mice that allow disentangling previously unexplored cell- and circuit-specific mechanisms of emotion recognition. Deploy these innovative translational socio-cognitive assessments in mice complemented by state-of-the-art genetics, single-cell imaging, and optogenetics tools we are starting to uncover evolutionary conserved substrates of emotion recognition. A special focus of our investigations is on the prefrontal cortex (PFC)-centered circuits.

2024-10-17 – Francesco Papaleo

Science4All 2024

When: September 28-29, 2024, from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm (Saturday) and from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm (Sunday)

Where: Palazzo del Bo, Via VIII Febbraio 2, Padova PD

Abstract: The University of Padua presents the 2024 edition of the Science4All Festival, which aims at communicating science in a simple but engaging way. The public will meet researchers from the University of Padua and participate in scientific experiments through workshops, games and other activities. All activities are free.

The Padova Neuroscience Center and our PhD Program in Neuroscience will be present at Palazzo Bo (booth No 21) and they will present “Un viaggio interattivo nel mondo delle neuroscienze“, a series of activities showing how research methods and new discoveries have improved our knowledge of the brain.

Bayesian analysis of neuroimaging data

by Dr. Peter Zeidman, University College London, UK

When: September 27, 2024, at 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari VIMM (Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata Onlus, Via Orus 2, Padova)

Abstract: In this talk, I will introduce methods for identifying the neural and vascular physiology that gives rise to non-invasive human neuroimaging data (e.g. MRI, fMRI, fNIRS, M/EEG). These methods enable us to go beyond simply describing our data, and test hypotheses about underlying neural and vascular mechanisms that cause the data. The key ingredients are Bayesian statistical methods, which enable us to quantify the evidence for competing explanations for how our data were generated. In particular, using worked examples from clinical and cognitive neuroscience, I will highlight 1) a Bayesian approach for statistical parametric mapping of fMRI data and Voxel Based Morphometry (VBM), and 2) state-space models of neural connectivity and vascular dynamics. All the methods I will describe are freely available in the SPM software package, among others.

2024-09-27 – Peter Zeidman

Plasticity, learning and memory in physiology and pathology: A navigational story

by Dr. Manuela Allegra, National Research Council and University of Padua

When: September 19, 2024, at 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari VIMM (Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata Onlus, Via Orus 2, Padova)

Abstract: The ability of the brain to reorganize its structure and function in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli is defined neuroplasticity. Plasticity of the nervous system is crucial throughout the lifespan, refining sensory systems during development, mediating learning and memory in adulthood and being the key mechanism for neuro-rehabilitation in case of injury and for the prevention of neurodegenerative disorders later in life. Using in vivo recording techniques (extracellular LFP recordings and calcium imaging), we will explore neuroplasticity in physiological and pathological conditions and we will describe how neuronal circuits of the hippocampus and neocortex can rewire their activity during learning and memory, and in response to brain injury.

2024-09-19 – Manuela Allegra

An open ecosystem for cognitive neuroscience

by Prof. Russell Poldrack, Stanford University, USA

When: September 6, 2024, at 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari VIMM (Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata Onlus, Via Orus 2, Padova)

Abstract: It is now widely accepted that openness and transparency are keys to improving the reproducibility of scientific research, but many challenges remain to adoption of these practices. I will discuss the growth of an ecosystem for open science within the field of cognitive neuroscience, focusing on platforms for open data sharing and open source tools for reproducible data analysis. I will also discuss the role of the Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS), a community standard for data organization, in enabling this open science ecosystem, and will outline the scientific impacts of these resources.

 

2024-09-06 – Russell PoldrackDownload

An open ecosystem for cognitive neuroscience

y Prof. Russell Poldrack, Stanford University, USA

When: September 6, 2024, at 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari VIMM (Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata Onlus, Via Orus 2, Padova)

Abstract: It is now widely accepted that openness and transparency are keys to improving the reproducibility of scientific research, but many challenges remain to adoption of these practices. I will discuss the growth of an ecosystem for open science within the field of cognitive neuroscience, focusing on platforms for open data sharing and open source tools for reproducible data analysis. I will also discuss the role of the Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS), a community standard for data organization, in enabling this open science ecosystem, and will outline the scientific impacts of these resources.

2024-09-06 – Russell Poldrack  Download

 

Oculomotor behavior and the brain: Clinical and forensic implications

by Dr. Andrea Zangrossi, Dept. of General Psychology, University of Padova

When: July 11, 2024, at 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari VIMM (Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata Onlus, Via Orus 2, Padova)

Abstract: A rule of thumb in computer science is that if you give a computer the same input, you will always get the same output. However, this does not hold true for humans: providing the same sensory input can lead to a wide range of different behavioral and brain responses. How is that possible? One explanation is that brain activity and behavior are only partially grounded in the properties of the sensory input, and that behavior is strongly influenced by the brain’s intrinsic dynamics. These endogenous dynamics are thought to represent stable features of the individual as well as ongoing mental states. A logical consequence is that behavioral dynamics should convey information about the underlying individual brain/mental states.

In this seminar, I will focus on a specific domain of behavior, namely oculomotor behavior – how we scan the surrounding environment through our eye movements. Specifically, I will explore how oculomotor behavior can provide insights into both stable interindividual differences, neurodegenerative processes, and covert cognitive processing.

Indeed, previous studies have shown that eye movements can reveal individual traits and brain properties that are stable over time. Moreover, studying oculomotor behavior has important clinical applications, as it can represent a non-invasive approach for identifying novel biomarkers of dementia. Finally, the nature of eye-movement dynamics makes them suitable for studying ongoing cognitive processing and revealing covert mental states, with potential applications in forensic neuroscience.

 

2024-07-11 – Andrea ZangrossiDownload

The social side of emotional regulation: Psychophysiological implications

by Dr. Antonio Maffei, Dept. of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova

When: June 27, 2024, at 3:00 pm

Where: Aula 2C-Psico2 (Building PSICO2, Via Venezia 12, Padova)

Abstract: The dominant approach to the study of emotions and affective processes does not typically take into account that affective reactions are constantly shaped by the presence of others. Additionally, they also shape others’ behavior and emotions. Recently, there has been a growing interest toward devising novel approaches and paradigms to overcome this limitation. A promising area of affective research, where encompassing the social dimension can make an important role, is stress reactivity. In this talk, I will review a series of psychophysiological studies on the processes of social stress buffering and stress contagion, and how these are linked with health and well-being. The goal will be showing how these two processes can be considered as two sides of the same coin, namely emotional co-regulation. Furthermore, I will discuss the significance of interindividual synchronization of physiological markers of stress, such as cortisol and heart rate variability, as a potential objective biomarker of social allostatic load, and how it could be used to quantify emotional co-dysregulation in social groups.

 

2024-06-27 – Antonio MaffeiDownload

Statistical approaches for understanding the brain through electrophysiological data: an overview

Speaker: Dr. Sara Sommariva (University of Genova)

When: 2 May 2024, h. 5:00 pm

Where: 1A150, Torre Archimede

Abstract:

Most brain functions are regulated by intercorrelated electrical currents flowing in few specific brain
areas. Magneto- and electro-encephalography (M/EEG) are two modern neuroimaging techniques
capable of non-invasively recording the electromagnetic field produced outside the scalp by these
neural currents with an outstanding temporal resolution. Interpreting the recorded M/EEG data is not
straightforward and advanced mathematical and statistical techniques are required to estimate the
dynamical brain activity that has generated the measured data. A typical workflow of analysis
consists of two steps: (i) first the active brain regions and their time-courses are estimated by
solving and ill-posed inverse problem (ii) then proper statistical metrics are compute to estimate
functional connectivity, i.e. to quantify the statistical dependencies between the time-courses
reconstructed at different brain locations.
The aim of this talk is to provide some insights on modern statistical tools for facing and optimizing
such a workflow.

2024-05-02 – Sara SommarivaDownload

Interindividual differences in the functional connectome at rest: From personalized approaches to biomarkers of cognitive fitness

by Dr. Arianna Menardi, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova

When: April 11, 2024, at 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari VIMM (Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata Onlus, Via Orus 2, Padova)

Abstract: The study of the functional connectome allows us to understand the routes of information flow in the brain. When applied to the single subject level, it enables us to map how differences in the region-to-region communication translate into differences in cognitive functioning. In light of this, we are witnessing a shift in the literature, gradually moving from group-level inferences to the study of interindividual differences. Most importantly, the emergence of concepts such as those of Precision Medicine are further pushing the new frontiers in Research towards that of highly individualized protocols in light of the individual clinical-biological makeup. Within this framework, I will present several studies that we have conducted in which the anatomy and functional connectome of the individual were employed to i) personalize stimulation protocols; ii) understand the degree of heritability of the functional connectivity; iii) relate topological efficiency to cognitive fitness. Furthermore, I will overview the importance of resting state activity, challenging its view as solely reflecting baseline activity in the brain, but rather as a biomarker of both high order functioning and pathology, such as in Alzheimer’s Disease.

2024-04-11 – Arianna MenardiDownload

New Frontiers for Mitochondrial Medicine

Relatore: Prof. Patrick Chinnery, University of Cambridge, UK

Quando: 9 aprile 2024 dalle ore 17:30

Dove: Aula Magna della Clinica Neurologica

Informazioni utili: L’incontro si articolerà in due parti. Nella prima, dalle ore 16:00 alle 17:00, ci sarà la discussione di casi clinici. Nella seconda, dalle ore 17.30 alle 18.30, ci sarà il seminario.

Ci sarà anche la possibilità di seguire i seminari in streaming (https://unipd.zoom.us/j/88959319767).

2024-04-09 – Patrick ChinneryDownload

Brain connectivity in neurological diseases: A network story

by Dr. Lorenzo Pini, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova

When: March 28, 2024, at 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari VIMM (Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata Onlus, Via Orus 2, Padova)

Abstract: At rest, our brain never rests. Even in the absence of external input, the brain continues to engage in a variety of intrinsic processes. Several tools can be used to assess this never ending activity, such as resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI). Although vascular in nature, rsfMRI is considered a reliable proxy of the neural activity allowing to unravel the functional organization of the brain, consisting of a hierarchical structure organized into polyfunctional neural networks. This configuration has been termed the “functional connectome”. On the other hand, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can be used to infer distal and local structural connections between brain regions (the structural connectome), complementing the functional connectome. Recent theories state that this functional and structural scaffold may represent the foundation of cognitive abilities. Brain conditions affecting neural health impact the connectome. Breakdown of connectivity can predict cognitive deficits in a broad range of psychiatric and neurological diseases, reinforcing the assumption that the connectome is a fundamental characteristic of cognitive processes. In this seminar we will discuss the relationship between brain structural functional connections with behavior in several neurological diseases, such as proteinopathies, stroke and brain tumors. By examining how the connectome and several pathophysiological mechanisms interact we can gain valuable insights into the underlying processes that support cognitive abilities. Furthermore, by identifying novel biomarkers through rsfMRI and DWI, we can improve the management and diagnosis of brain disorders, ultimately leading to better treatment outcomes for patients.

2024-03-28 – Lorenzo-PiniDownload

Epilessia del lobo temporale

Relatore: Dr. Roberto Mai, Ospedale Niguarda di Milano

Quando: 26 marzo 2024 dalle ore 17:00

Dove: Aula Magna della Clinica Neurologica

Informazioni utili: L’incontro si articolerà in due parti. Nella prima, dalle ore 16:00 alle 17:00, ci sarà la discussione di casi clinici. Nella seconda, dalle ore 17.30 alle 18.30, ci sarà il seminario.

Ci sarà anche la possibilità di seguire i seminari in streaming (https://unipd.zoom.us/j/88959319767).

2024-03-26 – Roberto MaiDownload

Funzioni dei lobi frontali: dallo studio di lesioni focali alla connettomica

Relatore: Prof. Antonino Vallesi, Università degli Studi di Padova

Quando: 19 marzo 2024 dalle ore 17:30

Dove: Aula Magna della Clinica Neurologica

Informazioni utili: L’incontro si articolerà in due parti. Nella prima, dalle ore 16:00 alle 17:00, ci sarà la discussione di casi clinici. Nella seconda, dalle ore 17.30 alle 18.30, ci sarà il seminario.

Ci sarà anche la possibilità di seguire i seminari in streaming (https://unipd.zoom.us/j/88959319767).

2024-03-19 – Antonino-VallesiDownload

Multimodal Brain Connectivity: An integrative view

Speaker: Prof. Alessandra Bertoldo (Padova Neuroscience Center, Department of Information Engineering)

When: 14 March 2024, h. 5:00 pm

Where: 1A150, Torre Archimede

Abstract: Multimodal brain connectivity is a burgeoning field within neuroscience that delves into the intricate interplay between different brain regions and networks through various imaging modalities. This approach offers a comprehensive understanding of the brain’s functional, metabolic, molecular and structural organization, shedding light on its complex dynamics and providing valuable insights into both healthy and pathological states. Traditional methods such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) have been instrumental in mapping functional connectivity, revealing synchronized activity patterns among spatially distinct brain areas. However, these modalities only offer a partial view of the brain’s intricate wiring. To overcome this limitation, researchers have turned to multimodal approaches, which integrate data from multiple imaging techniques, EEG, diffusion magnetic imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetoencephalography (MEG). By combining complementary information from these modalities, scientists can construct a more comprehensive picture of brain connectivity, capturing both functional and structural aspects across different spatial and temporal scales. However, multimodal brain connectivity analysis poses mathematical challenges in integrating diverse data types and developing robust computational models to unravel the brain’s complex network dynamics accurately.

2024-03-14 – Alessandra BertoldoDownload

Moderne tecniche di neuromodulazione

Relatore: Prof. Alberto Priori, Università degli Studi di Milano

Quando: 12 marzo 2024 dalle ore 17:30

Dove: Aula Magna della Clinica Neurologica

Informazioni utili: L’incontro si articolerà in due parti. Nella prima, dalle ore 16:00 alle 17:00, ci sarà la discussione di casi clinici. Nella seconda, dalle ore 17.30 alle 18.30, ci sarà il seminario.

Ci sarà anche la possibilità di seguire i seminari in streaming (https://unipd.zoom.us/j/88959319767).

2024-03-12-Alberto-PrioriDownload

Settimana Mondiale del Cervello 2024: One brain, one health

When: March 11, 2024, and March 14-15, 2024

Where: Archivio Antico, Palazzo Bo (March 11 and 14), and Sala dei Giganti, Palazzo Liviano, Padova (March 15)

Abstract: All’interno della “Brain Awareness Week”, ricorrenza annuale dedicata a sollecitare la pubblica consapevolezza nei confronti della ricerca sul cervello, l’Università di Padova propone una serie di iniziative che esplorano il funzionamento del cervello, con particolare attenzione a tre temi principali: “Arte e cervello” (Palazzo del Bo, 11 marzo, ore 17), “Cervello sano e cervello malato: prevenzione e intercettazione dei primi sintomi” (Palazzo del Bo, 14 marzo, ore 17) e “Il cervello plastico” (Sala dei Giganti, 15 marzo, ore 10).

Link alla notizia su “ilbo live”

Settimana Mondiale del Cervello 2024 – Flyer
Settimana Mondiale del Cervello 2024 – Brochure

Recovery after stroke: present and future perspective

Relatore: Prof. Nick Ward, University College London, UK

Quando: 5 marzo 2024 dalle ore 17:30

Dove: Aula Magna della Clinica Neurologica

Informazioni utili: L’incontro si articolerà in due parti. Nella prima, dalle ore 16:00 alle 17:00, ci sarà la discussione di casi clinici. Nella seconda, dalle ore 17.30 alle 18.30, ci sarà il seminario.

Ci sarà anche la possibilità di seguire i seminari in streaming (https://unipd.zoom.us/j/88959319767).

2024-03-05 – Nick WardDownload

Nodo e paranodopatie: dieci anni dopo

Relatore: Prof. Antonino Uncini, Università “G. d’Annunzio” di Chieti-Pescara

Quando: 27 febbraio 2024 dalle ore 17:30

Dove: Aula Magna della Clinica Neurologica

Informazioni utili: L’incontro si articolerà in due parti. Nella prima, dalle ore 16:00 alle 17:00, ci sarà la discussione di casi clinici. Nella seconda, dalle ore 17.30 alle 18.30, ci sarà il seminario.

Ci sarà anche la possibilità di seguire i seminari in streaming (https://unipd.zoom.us/j/88959319767).

2024-02-27 – Antonino UnciniDownload

Valutazione diagnostica e prognostica del disturbo di coscienza

Relatore: Prof. Anna Estraneo, Fondazione IRCCS Don Carlo Gnocchi di Firenze e di Sant’Angelo dei Lombardi

Quando: 20 febbraio 2024 dalle ore 17:30

Dove: Aula Magna della Clinica Neurologica

Informazioni utili: L’incontro si articolerà in due parti. Nella prima, dalle ore 16:00 alle 17:00, ci sarà la discussione di casi clinici. Nella seconda, dalle ore 17.30 alle 18.30, ci sarà il seminario.

Ci sarà anche la possibilità di seguire i seminari in streaming (https://unipd.zoom.us/j/88959319767).

2024-02-20 – Anna EstraneoDownload

Bridging the Gap: Integrating Facial Processing and Embodiment Research

by Prof. Paola Sessa, Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova

When: February 15, 2024, at 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari VIMM (Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata Onlus, Via Orus 2, Padova)

Abstract: This presentation delves into the role of embodiment and sensorimotor simulation in processing facial expressions, challenging traditional views with insights from studies on healthy participants and Moebius Syndrome (MBS) patients, who have facial palsy. It begins by emphasizing the evolutionary sophistication of human facial muscles for non-verbal communication and introduces the core and extended systems in the brain responsible for interpreting these expressions. Through a series of experiments, the speaker explores how altered facial mimicry affects perception, awareness, and memory of emotions, revealing nuanced findings that also suggest empathy and alexithymic traits play significant roles. The conclusions advocate for an integrated model of emotion recognition that combines embodiment with cognitive processing/strategies, suggesting that understanding emotion is more complex than previously thought.

2024-02-15 – Paola SessaDownload

Cancer neuroscience of glioma and beyond

Relatore: Prof. Frank Winkler, Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg

Quando: 13 febbraio 2024 dalle ore 17:30

Dove: online – https://unipd.zoom.us/j/88959319767

Informazioni utili: L’incontro si articolerà in due parti. Nella prima, dalle ore 16:00 alle 17:00, ci sarà la discussione di casi clinici. Nella seconda, dalle ore 17.30 alle 18.30, ci sarà il seminario.

2024-02-13 – Frank WinklerDownload

Neuromielite ottica: lo spettro clinico e le prospettive terapeutiche

Relatore: Dr. Paola Perini, Clinica Neurologica, Padova

Quando: 6 febbraio 2024 dalle ore 17:30

Dove: Aula Magna della Clinica Neurologica

Informazioni utili: L’incontro si articolerà in due parti. Nella prima, dalle ore 16:00 alle 17:00, ci sarà la discussione di casi clinici. Nella seconda, dalle ore 17.30 alle 18.30, ci sarà il seminario.

Ci sarà anche la possibilità di seguire i seminari in streaming (https://unipd.zoom.us/j/88959319767).

2024-02-06 – Paola PeriniDownload

Ruolo diagnostico e terapeutico della TMS nelle malattie neurodegenerative

Relatore: Prof. Alberto Benussi, Università di Brescia

Quando: 30 gennaio 2024 dalle ore 17:30

Dove: Aula Magna della Clinica Neurologica

Informazioni utili: L’incontro si articolerà in due parti. Nella prima, dalle ore 16:00 alle 17:00, ci sarà la discussione di casi clinici. Nella seconda, dalle ore 17.30 alle 18.30, ci sarà il seminario.

Ci sarà anche la possibilità di seguire i seminari in streaming (https://unipd.zoom.us/j/88959319767).

2024-01-30 – Alberto BenussiDownload

Variations in brain structure and cognition: Established findings and implications to psychiatry

Speaker: Prof. Christopher R. Madan, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham

When: 29 January 2024 at 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari VIMM (Via Orus 2, Padova, Building A, Ground Floor)

Abstract: Individuals vary in a myriad of ways. Here I will focus on variations in brain structure and cognition, providing insight into potential new diagnostic markers. Conventional measures of brain structure focus on size (e.g., volume, thickness), without much consideration for shape. I will introduce work showing a measure of shape complexity, fractal dimensionality, has been found to be more sensitive to clinical population differences. Cognitive differences also are evident and can be assessed through biases in memory and mental imagery abilities. These findings inform our approach to psychiatric conditions, offering new avenues for diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies.

2024-01-29-Christopher-MadanDownload

Searching for low-dimensional neural manifolds

Speaker: Dr. Michele Allegra (Padova Neuroscience Center, “Galileo Galilei” Physics and Astronomy Department)

When: 25 January 2024, h. 5:00 pm

Where: 1C150, Torre Archimede

Abstract: Traditionally, the relation between cognition and the brain was understood in terms of neurons performing a sequence of operations on input signals. In recent years, the advent of large-scale neuronal recordings has shifted the focus on movement within representational spaces collectively implemented by neural populations. Geometrically, we can picture these spaces, termed “neural manifolds”, as low-dimensional surfaces in a neural population state space in which each axis represents the activity of one neuron. Modelling movement along the manifold provides a dynamical-system description of neural computation. In this talk, I will provide an introduction to the topic, focusing on how neural manifolds can be characterized and reconstructed from the data by combining geometrical and probabilistic methods.

2024-01-25 – Michele AllegraDownload

La diagnosi e la terapia della malattia di Parkinson nel terzo millennio

Relatore: Prof. Angelo Antonini, Professore ordinario di Neurologia presso il Dipartimento di Neuroscienze dell’Università di Padova

Quando: 23 gennaio 2024 dalle ore 16:00

Dove: Aula Magna della Clinica Neurologica

Informazioni utili: L’incontro si articolerà in due parti. Nella prima, dalle ore 16:00 alle 17:00, ci sarà la discussione di casi clinici. Nella seconda, dalle ore 17.30 alle 18.30, ci sarà il seminario.

Ci sarà anche la possibilità di seguire i seminari in streaming (https://unipd.zoom.us/j/88959319767).

2024-01-23 – Angelo AntoniniDownload

Physiological and Rehabilitation Outcomes: Gains from Automated Interventions in stroke Therapy (PRO GAIT): Dissemination & Closing event

When: January 26, 2024, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm

Where: Aula Nievo, Palazzo Bo (Via VIII Febbraio, Padova)

Developments in robotics allow people with profound neuromuscular deficits after stroke to walk with assistance (during the gait cycle) using an exoskeleton robot. Integrating a robotic device with individualised user electroencephalography (EEG /electrical activity in the motor areas in the brain) and EMG (muscle) feedback would allow more physiological and targeted gait parameters in response to effort and confer neuroplastic training effects including neuromodulation of temporal and spatial features of gait.

PRO GAIT is funded by Horizon 2020 programme of the European Union

PRO GAIT FlyerDownload

Symposium “Music: Origin, the Brain, and Evolution”

When: November 10, 2023 – starting at 9:00 am

Where: Conservatorio Benedetto Marcello (Sestiere San Marco, Campiello Pisani 2810, Venice)

Abstract: Partendo dal ritrovamento nella Germania sud-occidentale di “flauti” risalenti a circa 40 000 anni fa, ottenuti in generale dalle ossa lunghe delle ali di rapaci, il simposio verterà sulle ragioni che hanno spinto il genere Homo a creare sistemi musicali prima dei graffiti e delle piccole sculture del neolitico. Questo ha dato origine alla cultura musicale, facendone forse la forma più primigenia del pensiero simbolico: il tema dominante è quindi il legame tra il cervello e la musica. Altri due temi d’intervento, altrettanto cruciali, sono: da un lato, stabilire quale delle due specie del genere Homo – i Sapiens e i Neanderthal – abbiano prodotto gli strumenti; dall’altro, identificare le ragioni alla base dell’origine della musica, che è legata all’evoluzione del pensiero: se si correlavano allo sviluppo di specifiche aree cerebrali implicate nella creazione dei suoni, e/o alla sfera emozionale, e/o al progresso del linguaggio.

Gli interventi vedranno la partecipazione di evoluzionisti della specie umana; paleogenetisti interessati all’evoluzione del cervello; musicologi che rintraccino le origini della musica, tra cui musicologi che indaghino sul ruolo ‘bioacustico’ del canto degli uccelli e altri animali; psicologi e neuroscienziati esperti dei meccanismi cerebrali del suono; esperti del linguaggio primitivo. A conclusione della giornata, la musicista Anna Friederike Potengowski terrà un concerto usando un flauto paleolitico restaurato.

Ulteriori informazioni sono disponibili a questo link.

L’evento gratuito ma si richiede la registrazione all’indirizzo accrediti@istitutoveneto.it.

 

Symposium – Music Origin Brain EvolutionDownload

Predictive processing in spoken language comprehension: insights from electrophysiology in typical and atypical populations

by dr. Simone Gastaldon, Dept. of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation and Padova Neuroscience Center – Padova

When: November 3rd, 2022 – 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari – VIMM. Recording available on Mediaspace.

Abstract: Understanding language is a complex task that neurologically intact people seem to perform very easily. To achieve this, our brain does not only passively process incoming stimuli, but also proactively predicts upcoming information to facilitate processing. In this talk I will present past and ongoing studies that investigate some aspects of such predictive processes, by using electroencephalography with both typically developed adults, and people with atypical development. In particular, I will focus on 1) the hypothesis of “prediction-by-production” (typical adults and adults who stutter), and 2) the relevance of prediction and multisensory integration in audiovisual speech comprehension when the auditory input is sub-optimal (deaf people with cochlear implant).

2022_11_03_GastaldonDownload

How can a single neuron influence behavior? Hints from integrate-and-fire network models

by dr. Davide Bernardi, Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication @ Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Ferrara, Italy)

When: October 6th, 2022 – 3:15 pm

Where: Sala Seminari, VIMM. Recording available on Mediaspace

Abstract: There is increasing experimental evidence that the activity of single cortical neurons can make a difference to the brain. One particularly striking example is that rats can be trained to respond to the stimulation of a single cell in the barrel cortex. It is not clear how this finding can be reconciled with the usual textbook view that only large neuronal populations can reliably encode information, as is often argued on the basis of the large noise and chaotic dynamics of cortical networks. This talk shows how this problem can be framed theoretically by studying the stimulation of a single neuron in a large random network of integrate-and-fire neurons. In this model, chaotic noise-like fluctuations arise naturally from the combination of spiking dynamics and the random interactions.

A combination of numerical simulations and analytical calculations demonstrates how a simple readout strategy can be used to detect the single neuron stimulation in the activity of a readout subpopulation. Furthermore, I will discuss how a second integrate-and-fire network can perform the readout in a way that is both more realistic and more efficient. In the final part, I will argue how such a readout network, tuned to approximate a differentiator circuit, can detect the single-neuron stimulation in a more biologically detailed model. Most importantly, the effect size does not depend appreciably on the duration or intensity of a constant stimulation, whereas the response probability increases significantly upon injection of an irregular current, in agreement with experimental findings.

Taken together, these results hint at a possible general readout strategy: feed-forward and recurrent inhibitory synapses ensure both the macroscopic stability and the sensitivity to single-neuron perturbation through a selective imbalance in the topological (spatial) and temporal sense.

Short bio: Born in Padova, Davide Bernardi obtained a diploma as a cellist at the Conservatorio di Musica di Padova and a B.A. in physics at the University of Padova. After spending several years as a chamber music and orchestra player, he continued his studies at the Freie Universität Berlin (Germany), where he graduated in physics. As a member of the graduate school “Sensory computation in neural systems” based at the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, he achieved a PhD in theoretical physics at the Humboldt University of Berlin with highest distinction (summa cum laude). He currently holds a Post-Doc position at the Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication hosted by the Italian Institute of Technology and the University of Ferrara.

flyer-bernardi_06_10Download

A novel multi-class logistic regression algorithm to reliably infer network connectivity from cell membrane potentials

by dr. Thierry Nieus, Università degli Studi di Milano

When: October 6th, 2022 – 2:30 pm

Where: Sala Seminari, VIMM. Recording available on Mediaspace

Abstract: In neuroscience, the structural connectivity matrix of synaptic weights between neurons is one of the critical factors determining the overall function of a network of neurons. The mechanisms of signal transduction have been intensively studied at different time and spatial scales and at both the cellular and molecular level. While a better understanding and knowledge of some basic processes of information handling by neurons has been achieved, little is known about the organization and function of complex neuronal networks. Experimental methods are now available to simultaneously monitor neural activities from a large number of sites in real time.

Here, we present a methodology to infer the connectivity of a population of neurons from their voltage traces.

At first, spikes and putative synaptic events are detected. Then, a multi-class logistic regression is used to fit the putative events to spiking activities. The fit is further constrained, by including a penalization term that regulates the sparseness of the inferred network. The proposed weighted Multi-Class Logistic Regression with L1 penalization (MCLRL) was benchmarked against data obtained from in silico network simulations.

MCLRL properly inferred the connectivity of all tested networks (up to 500 neurons), as indicated by the Matthew correlation coefficient (MCC), already with small samples of network activity (5 to 10 seconds). Then, we tested MCLRL against different conditions, that are of interest in concrete applications. First, MCLRL accomplished to reconstruct the connectivity among subgroups of neurons randomly sampled from the network. Second, the robustness of MCLRL to noise was assessed and the performances remained high (0.95) even in extremely high noise conditions (95% noisy synaptic events). Third, we devised a data driven procedure to gather a proxy of the optimal penalization term, thus envisioning the application of MCLRL to experimental data. The proposed approach is ideally suited for populations recordings, where spikes and post-synaptic recordings can simultaneously be recorded (e.g. genetic encoded voltage indicators). Yet, the main message here is that a small fraction (5%) of genuine synaptic events is sufficient to properly infer the underlying connectivity of a network.

Short bio: Thierry Nieus earned a PhD in Applied Mathematics in 2004 working on computational models of neuronal cells. During his PhD he spent a period abroad in Belgium and France collaborating at the EU projects Cerebellum and Spikeforce. He used information theory tools to quantify the processing of the inputs by in silico and experimentally recorded neural cells. At the fall of 2006, he moved to the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) working on detailed models of synaptic dynamics. At the IIT he also started working on designing data analysis pipelines to process large scale recordings of brain tissues gathered with cutting-edge technologies. During his stay at the IIT he has acquired a good knowledge of the cellular and sub-cellular processes determining neuron’s activities, of the mathematical and computational approaches used for modeling and of the machine learning, graph theory and information theory tools to investigate the underlying computation. In 2016, he moved to the iTCF laboratory headed by Marcello Massimini (Università degli Studi di Milano – Italy) working on entropy based measures to quantify the complexity of brain signals in humans. He also brought these measures to cell culture networks, cerebellar brain slices and computational models. He has a longstanding experience in teaching computational neuroscience, computer programming and data analysis tools to undergraduate and PhD students. He also supervised the research activity of 4 PhD students. At the fall of 2021, he moved to the HPC Indaco Unitech (Università degli Studi di Milano – Italy), where he is involved in teaching the basics of HPC as well as in data science and neuroscience projects with private companies and research groups.

flyer-nieus_06_10Download

Science4All 2022

Promossa dall’Università di Padova, la manifestazione Science4All è rivolta a tutta la cittadinanza e mira a comunicare la scienza in modo semplice e divertente con eventi a libero accesso.

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Challenges and opportunities of advancing fMRI resolution, interpretability, and utility

by prof. Peter Bandettini, National Institute of Health, USA

When: September 29th, 2022 – 3:00 pm

Where: Zoom meeting. Recording available on Mediaspace

Abstract: Functional MRI has been advanced by improvements in acquisition, processing, and our understanding of the neurovascular response, leading to new insights, applications, and avenues of research. In this lecture, the challenges and opportunities in working with fMRI at its limits of resolution,
sensitivity, and interpretability are described. Several examples of ultra-high resolution mapping of cortical layer activity and connectivity are shown, opening up the capability of fMRI to map directional connectivity and functional hierarchy. Also presented are some of my lab’s recent work on tracking ongoing cognition, assessing vigilance, and reducing physiologic noise – all through the integration of novel pulse sequences, paradigms, and processing methods. Throughout the presentation open questions and challenges are raised and potential opportunities towards their utility to neuroscience and clinical applications are presented.

Short bio: Peter Bandettini received his B.S. in Physics from Marquette University in 1989 and his Ph.D. in Biophysics in 1994 at the Medical College of Wisconsin and carried out his post-doc at the Massachusetts General Hospital NMR Center. Since 1999, he has been the Director of the Functional MRI Facility which
is jointly supported by NINDS and NIMH, and Chief of the Section on Functional Imaging Methods in the Laboratory of Brain and Cognition. In 2017 he initiated two new teams to help investigators throughout the NIH. These are the Machine Learning Team and the Data Science and Sharing Team. At this time, he also became the founding Director of the Center for Multimodal. He was Editor in Chief of the journal, NeuroImage from 2011-2017. His research focus since 1991 has been on developing fMRI acquisition
methods, brain activation strategies, and processing approaches to more effectively extract neuronal and physiologic information from fMRI data toward the goals of understanding the human brain and
increasing the fMRI’s clinical efficacy.

flyer-bandettini_09_29Download

‘Little brain’, big contributions – Reflection on cerebellar circuitry in action, perception, and cognition

by prof. Sonja Kotz – University of Maastricht

When: July 7th, 2022 – 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari, VIMM. Recording available on Mediaspace

Abstract: It is well established that cortico-cerebellar-cortical circuitry monitors motor behavior, but recent evidence established that this circuitry similarly engages in the temporal encoding of basic and more complex (multi)sensory information. Consequently, cerebellar computations may generally apply to the temporal encoding of motor and basic and complex (multi)sensory information as (i) such information stimulates and monitors cortical information processing, and (ii) cerebellar-thalamic output might be a possible source of endogenous activity, predicting the outcome of cortical information processing and (iii) possibly providing a temporal frame for the binding of information. I will discuss our current conceptual thinking as well as empirical evidence in support of these considerations.

sonja_kotz_07_07Download

Thalamic regulation of prefrontal dynamics for cognitive control

by prof. Michael Halassa – MIT, Boston

When: June 23th, 2022 – 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari, VIMM. Recording available on Mediaspace

Abstract: Interactions between the thalamus and cortex are critical for normal cognition. Although classical theories emphasize its role in transmitting signals to or between cortical areas, recent studies show that the thalamus modulates cortical function through additional mechanisms. In this talk, I will discuss findings that highlight the role of the mediodorsal (MD) thalamus in regulating prefrontal excitatory/inhibitory balance and effective connectivity during decision making. I will present recently published data showing that the MD thalamus dynamically adjusts prefrontal evidence integration according to incoming stimulus statistics. I will also present unpublished data showing how the thalamus may be a nexus for handling distinct types of task uncertainty. Given that MD-PFC interactions are known to be perturbed in schizophrenia, these findings may be relevant to suboptimal management of uncertainty that leads to aberrant beliefs. If time allows, I will present early collaborative work in that domain.

2022_06_23_halassaDownload

From synapse to network: models of information storage and retrieval in brain networks

by prof. Nicolas Brunel, Duke University

When: June 16th, 2022 – 3:00 pm

Where: VIMM Meeting room – Recording available on Mediaspace

Abstract: Brains have a remarkable ability to store information about the external world, on time scales that range from seconds to the lifetime of an animal. What are the mechanisms by which information is stored in the brain, and how is stored information retrieved from memory? One of the central hypothesis of neuroscience is that information is stored through synaptic plasticity – modifications of synaptic connectivity between neurons. Theoretical models have explored the impact of such synaptic plasticity mechanisms on network dynamics. One scenario, in which synaptic changes are predominantly temporally symmetric, leads to the creation of fixed point attractor states of the dynamics of the network, one for each item stored in memory. Another scenario, in which changes have a strong temporally asymmetric component, leads to the creation of sequences of network activity. In this talk, I will present recent instantiations of these models, that are both simple enough to enable mean-field calculations, but also detailed enough to enable detailed comparisons with experimental data. I will also show how heterogeneities in synaptic plasticity can allow networks to flexibly switch from the fixed point attractor regime to the sequence regime, and to vary the speed at which sequences are retrieved.

Short bio: Nicolas Brunel is professor of Neurobiology and Physics at Duke University. He is also member of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences. He uses theoretical models of brain systems to investigate how they process and learn information from their inputs. His current work, in collaboration with various experimental groups, focuses on the mechanisms of learning and memory, from the synapse to the network level. Using methods from statistical physics, he has shown recently that the synaptic connectivity of a network that maximizes storage capacity reproduces two key experimentally observed features: low connection probability and strong overrepresentation of bidirectionally connected pairs of neurons. He has also inferred ‘synaptic plasticity rules’ (a mathematical description of how synaptic strength depends on the activity of pre and post-synaptic neurons) from data, and shown that networks endowed with a plasticity rule inferred from data have a storage capacity that is close to the optimal bound.

nicolas_brunel_06_16Download

Deciphering how cortical astrocytes dynamically regulate synaptic plasticity ensuring the information storage in memory circuits

by prof. Marco Canossa, CIBIO, University of Trento

When: June 9th, 3:00 PM

Where: Aula 0B, Complesso di Biomedicina, Fiore di Botta, Padova

Abstract: In the cerebral cortex neurons are organized in specific layers and form connections both within the cortex and with other brain regions, thus forming a network of synaptic connections comprising distinct circuits. Plasticity is a fundamental feature of neuronal connections in the brain, where experience-dependent changes in synaptic strengths are crucial for creating learning and memory circuits (engrams). Deciphering how neurons dynamically express synaptic plasticity while ensuring the formation of memory circuits remains a key challenge. Glial cells respond to neuronal activation and release neuroactive molecules (termed “gliotransmitters”) that can affect synaptic activity and modulate plasticity. Here we used molecular genetic tools, electrophysiology, ultra-structural and live microscopy to assess the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on cortical gliotransmission both in ex vivo and in vivo. We find that glial cells recycle BDNF that was previously secreted by neurons following long-term potentiation (LTP)-inducing electrical stimulation. Upon BDNF glial recycling, we observed tight temporal, highly localized TrkB phosphorylation on adjacent neurons, a process required to sustain LTP. Engagement of BDNF recycling by astrocytes represents a novel mechanism by which cortical synapses can provide synaptic changes that are relevant for consolidating memory. Accordingly, mice deficient in BDNF glial recycling fail to recognize familiar from novel objects, indicating a physiological requirement for this process in memory retention.

2022-06-09_canossaDownload

A diurnal rhythm of intracellular chloride in pyramidal neurons affects cortical dynamics and signal processing in the cortex

by prof. Gian Michele Ratto, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pisa

When: May 26th, 2022 – 3:00 pm

Where: Sala Seminari at VIMM. Recording available on Mediaspace

Abstract: Living organisms navigate through a cyclic world: activity, feeding, social interactions
are all organized along the periodic daily rhythm synchronized by external environmental cues and
brain function varies markedly through the day. An obvious contributory factor is the large change
in the level of sensory drive from day to night. Less obvious is the degree to which intrinsic
neuronal activity might vary, yet there is abundant clinical data supporting the idea that many
functional neurological and psychiatric conditions have strong diurnal patterns. Additionally, basic
animal research has further documented differences in the level of neuronal firing and synaptic
function between periods of rest and activity. Surprisingly, we have no clear understanding of the
cellular basis of the diurnal regulation of neuronal activity, but we should expect the operation of
some mechanisms acting on the excitation/inhibition interplay.

The main inhibitory synaptic currents, gated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), are mediated
by Cl–conducting channels, and are therefore sensitive to changes of the chloride electrochemical
gradient. As GABAergic activity dictates neuronal firing, the intracellular chloride concentration
([Cl-]i) plays a major role in the regulation of neuronal activity. We measured [Cl-]i with 2-photon
imaging of a genetically encoded Cl- sensor in anaesthetized young adult mice, and we found a
large physiological diurnal fluctuation of baseline [Cl-]i in pyramidal neurons. This equates to a
~15mV positive shift in chloride equilibrium potential at times when mice are typically active
(midnight), relative to their sleep phase (midday).

The cyclic regulation of [Cl-]i impacts on cortical processing since visually evoked gamma-band
oscillations are reduced during the active phase, as it should be expected by the decreased
capacity of inhibition of synchronizing large neuronal ensembles. Importantly, this can be rescued
by the NKCC1 blocker bumetanide that also restores [Cl-]i to the daily levels. Finally, we
determined that during the high [Cl-]i period, the cortex is more sensitive to the pro-epileptic drug
4-ammino pyridine, and again, this enhanced epileptogenicity is rescued by bumetanide.
These results strongly support the idea that the diurnal cycle of cortical excitability is mediated by
a previously unknown change of GABAergic transmission due to a cyclic change of [Cl]i
homeostasis in cortical pyramidal neurons.

2022_05_26_RattoDownload

Plasticity of visual representations in the mouse cortex

by prof. Andrea Benucci, RIKEN Center for Brain Science – Saitama – Japan

When: April 28th, 2022 – 10:00 am

Where: Zoom meeting. Recording available on Mediaspace

Abstract: In this presentation, I will first introduce the main areas of interest of my laboratory at RIKEN Center for Brain Science. Then, I will focus on a recent work where we examined the plasticity of visual representations in the mouse cortex.

The starting observation for this study is that brain circuits acquire and update computations through the dynamics of recurrently connected neurons. Neuronal connections are plastic but the principles that coordinate cell-to-cell connectivity changes for network-level computations remain largely elusive. We found that optogenetic stimulation centered on a cortical cell (target cell) could coordinate activity changes across hundreds of surrounding cells, enhancing the population encoding for the preferred feature of the target cell. These effects were more prominent in cells with weaker sensory responses and impacted the spontaneous dynamics, with cells co-tuned with the target being more likely to participate in spontaneous activity assemblies. Our results reveal a form of plasticity in adult cortical networks that is sensitive to the activation of even a single neuron, and highlight mechanisms that balance plasticity and stability of feature representations.

2022_04_28_BenucciDownload

Padova e la nuova sfida del computer quantistico

When: Apr 8th, 2022 – starting at 3:00 pm

Where: Aula Magna, Complesso Beato Pellegrino, Padova

Abstract: Nello splendido contesto del Complesso Beato Pellegrino un evento che vedrà la presenza di esponenti della Regione Veneto e dell’EU Quantum Flagship e di Amazon per affrontare insieme la sfida del computer quantistico.

Il Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia (DFA) dell’Università di Padova organizza per il giorno 8 aprile, alle ore 15:00, presso l’Aula Magna del Complesso Beato Pellegrino, il convegno “Padova e la nuova sfida del computer quantistico”, incentrato sul progetto Quantum Computing and Simulation Center (QCSC) del quale il DFA è capofila e coordinatore.

Parteciperanno in presenza tutti i relatori, che dopo i saluti istituzionali della Rettrice dell’Università di Padova, Daniela Mapelli, del Presidente dell’Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Antonio Zoccoli e del Presidente del Cineca, Francesco Ubertini, approfondiranno alcuni temi di rilevanza strategica per fornire una visione di insieme nell’ambito delle tecnologie quantistiche.

Si parlerà dell’impegno della Regione Veneto con Fabrizio Spagna, Presidente di Veneto Sviluppo; della visione europea e del panorama italiano delle tecnologie quantistiche, rispettivamente con Tommaso Calarco, EU Quantum Flagship, e Chiara Machiavello, dell’Università di Pavia; delle applicazioni industriali del computer quantistico con Simone Severini, Direttore del Quantum Computing di Amazon web service.

Infine Simone Montangero, Vice Direttore del QTechCenter, presenterà il Centro di Calcolo e Simulazione Quantistica dell’Università di Padova, di cui è Principal Investigator. Le conclusioni sono affidate a Flavio Seno, Direttore del Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia. Modera l’evento: Francesco Suman.

La partecipazione all’evento è su invito, ma sarà possibile seguirlo anche su Youtube, sul canale degli 800 anni dell’Università di Padova a questo link https://unipd.link/computer-quantistico

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