Research Group: Egidio D’Angelo, Francesca Prestori, Lisa Mapelli, Francesca Locatelli, Simona Tritto, Teresa Soda

The research strategy of this group aims to elucidate the molecular/cellular bases of long-term synaptic plasticity at cerebellar synapses in vitro and in vivo and to understand its implications for learning and behavior. The techniques include primarily electrophysiological recordings (patch-clamp, multielectrode arrays), imaging (voltage-sensitive dye imaging, two-photon microscopy, calcium imaging) and optogenetics.
Long term synaptic plasticity (long-term potentiation and depression: LTP and LTD) is thought to provide the basis for learning and memory in the brain and occurs at brain synapses with differentiated mechanisms. We have first reported new forms of LTP and LTD in the cerebellar circuit, characterized their molecular mechanisms and identified alterations in pathological transgenic animal models. See our web site for further details <http://www-5.unipv.it/dangelo/>. A PhD student will have the possibility to choose different specific projects: 1. LTP and LTD in vitro (acute brain slices) in the cerebellar granular layer. 2. LTP and LTD in vivo (anesthetized mice) in the cerebellar-prefrontal pathway. In all these projects, there will be the possibility to apply the study to animal models, especially of autism (IB2 mice). The data will be subsequently coupled to mathematical and robotic models in order to understand the integrative implication of this plasticity forms.
Students have the possibility to spend part of their research activity in collaboration with research groups in Spain, UK and Switzerland. The works are developed within the collaborative framework of the Human Brain Project, of which the group is one of the leading units <https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/en/>.

Recent Publications:

• Christian Hansel, David J. Linden, Egidio D’Angelo. (2001) Beyond Parallel Fiber LTD: The Diversity of Synaptic and Non-Synaptic Plasticity in the Cerebellum. Nature Neuroscience 4, pp. 467-475.
• Ramakrishnan KB, Voges K, De Propris L, De Zeeuw CI, D’Angelo E. (2016) Tactile Stimulation Evokes Long-Lasting Potentiation of Purkinje Cell Discharge In Vivo. Front Cell Neurosci. 10:36.
• Sgritta M, Locatelli F, Soda T, Prestori F, D’Angelo E. (2016) Hebbian spike-timing dependent plasticity at the cerebellar input stage. J Neurosci. :  2809-2823