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SUMMARY:BMI SEMINAR  //  Guillermina Lopez-Bendito - Thalamic spontaneous 
 activity in cortical sensory maps development and plasticity
DTSTART:20200122T121500
DTEND:20200122T131500
DTSTAMP:20260925T120602Z
UID:b4e17b3469d5bea1a2b8b8209743922b36c6d2bf26e460087d2628d4
CATEGORIES:Conferences - Seminars
DESCRIPTION:Guillermina Lopez-Bendito\, Institute of Neurosciences\, CSIC-
 UMH\, Alicante\, Spain\nDuring decades\, it has been observed in humans an
 d animal models that the brain has an extraordinary capability for adaptat
 ion after sensory loss. For example\, it is well known that congenitally b
 lind humans have a smaller visual cortex and expanded spared cortical area
 s\, such as the somatosensory tactile. The mechanisms behind these observa
 tions were unknown. By the combination of calcium imaging\, cellular and m
 olecular biology and mouse genetics\, this study demonstrates the existenc
 e of spontaneous waves of calcium activity that communicate in the thalamu
 s distinct sensory systems\, visual\, auditory and somatosensory. These wa
 ves of information of neural activity maintain sensory systems in homeosta
 sis and allow a normal development of sensory cortical areas. However\, af
 ter a peripheral sensory loss\, these waves of calcium activity in the tha
 lamus are modified triggering gene expression changes and ultimately chang
 es in cortical areas size all of which occurs in an experience-independent
  fashion. I will also recapitulate our recent findings demonstrating the r
 ole of these embryonic thalamic waves in controlling the development of co
 rtical sensory maps.\n 
LOCATION:SV 1717 https://plan.epfl.ch/?room==SV%201717
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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