Computational study of hippocampal-cortical-thalamic interactions: simulating patterns of synaptic plasticity and oscillatory activity

• Grant number: 17/07688-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2017
• End date: August 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Carlos Roque da Silva Filho
• Grantee: Renan Oliveira Shimoura
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07699-0 - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center for Neuromathematics - NeuroMat, AP.CEPID
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/08556-1 - Computational study of hippocampus-cortical-thalamic interactions: simulating oscillatory activity, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The triangular system involving the hippocampus, the prefrontal cortex (PFC), and limbic thalamus is related, in its healthy functioning, with working memory and the alternation between states of consciousness. Dysfunctions in this circuit can lead to psychiatric disorders, cognitive deficits, and amplification of epileptic seizures. To build a computer model of that circuit is the goal of the project. It is intended, in particular, to submit the model to different hippocampal stimulation protocols to induce synaptic plasticity, and analyze the global activity of the cortical subnets. Thus, we can explore how synaptic plasticity hippocampus-PFC is reflected in changes on thalamocortical oscillations, these changes being functional or dysfunctional. The model will contain structural details of the cortical microcircuitry, including excitatory and inhibitory neurons organized in layers, and laminar distribution of neurons and synaptic connections set from the experimental literature. On the other hand, the thalamus will be represented by a generic network of excitatory neurons, and the hippocampal inputs will be represented by spike trains with biologically relevant frequencies. Once constructed, the computational model can be exposed to structural and functional damage (e.g., hippocampal lesions, and prefrontal interneurons hypofunction) seeking to reproduce experimental pre-clinical data. Computational-experimental dialogue will happen in close collaboration with a group of research in neurophysiology (Dr. Lézio Bueno Soares Jr. and Prof. Dr. João Pereira Leite, FMRP-USP), whose recent electrophysiological findings are liable to exploitation in silico. We hope, with such cooperation, to enrich the discussion of neurobiological data and support the design of future experiments in vivo, in accordance with international trends in neurosciences. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LIMA, VINICIUS; PENA, RODRIGO F. O.; SHIMOURA, RENAN O.; KAMIJI, NILTON L.; CEBALLOS, CESAR C.; BORGES, FERNANDO S.; HIGA, GUILHERME S. V.; DE PASQUALE, ROBERTO; ROQUE, ANTONIO C.. Modeling and characterizing stochastic neurons based on in vitro voltage-dependent spike probability functions. European Physical Journal-Special Topics, JUN 2021. (17/07688-9, 19/14962-5, 15/50122-0, 18/20277-0, 17/18977-1, 11/50151-0, 16/03855-5, 13/25667-8, 13/07699-0)

SHIMOURA, RENAN OLIVEIRA; PENA, RODRIGO F. O.; LIMA, VINICIUS; KAMIJI, NILTON L.; GIRARDI-SCHAPPO, MAURICIO; ROQUE, ANTONIO C.. Building a model of the brain: from detailed connectivity maps to network organization. European Physical Journal-Special Topics, v. 230, n. 14-15, p. 2887-2909, OCT 2021. (13/25667-8, 17/07688-9, 18/09150-9, 18/20277-0, 16/03855-5, 13/07699-0, 15/50122-0)

PENA, RODRIGO F. O.; LIMA, VINICIUS; O. SHIMOURA, RENAN; PAULO NOVATO, JOAO; ROQUE, ANTONIO C.. Optimal Interplay between Synaptic Strengths and Network Structure Enhances Activity Fluctuations and Information Propagation in Hierarchical Modular Networks. BRAIN SCIENCES, v. 10, n. 4, APR 2020. (13/07699-0, 15/50122-0, 17/07688-9, 18/20277-0, 17/05874-0, 13/25667-8)

SHIMOURA, RENAN OLIVEIRA; PENA, RODRIGO F. O.; LIMA, VINICIUS; KAMIJI, NILTON L.; GIRARDI-SCHAPPO, MAURICIO; ROQUE, ANTONIO C.. Building a model of the brain: from detailed connectivity maps to network organization. European Physical Journal-Special Topics, JUN 2021. (17/07688-9, 18/09150-9, 15/50122-0, 18/20277-0, 16/03855-5, 13/25667-8, 13/07699-0)

VINÍCIUS LIMA CORDEIRO; RODRIGO FELIPE DE OLIVEIRA PENA; CESAR AUGUSTO CELIS CEBALLOS; RENAN OLIVEIRA SHIMOURA; ANTONIO CARLOS ROQUE. Aplicações da teoria da informação à neurociência. Revista Brasileira de Ensino de Física, v. 41, n. 2, 2018-11-29. (13/25667-8, 17/07688-9, 13/07699-0, 17/05874-0, 15/50122-0)

LIMA, VINICIUS; PENA, RODRIGO F. O.; SHIMOURA, RENAN O.; KAMIJI, NILTON L.; CEBALLOS, CESAR C.; BORGES, FERNANDO S.; HIGA, GUILHERME S. V.; DE PASQUALE, ROBERTO; ROQUE, ANTONIO C.. Modeling and characterizing stochastic neurons based on in vitro voltage-dependent spike probability functions. European Physical Journal-Special Topics, v. 230, n. 14-15, p. 2963-2972, OCT 2021. (17/18977-1, 11/50151-0, 13/25667-8, 17/07688-9, 18/20277-0, 16/03855-5, 19/14962-5, 13/07699-0, 15/50122-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SHIMOURA, Renan Oliveira. Computational study of thalamocortical interactions: simulating oscillatory activity. 2021. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.