MECHANISMS OF SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY, AND CONTRIBUTION TO COGNITIVE FUNCTION

Synaptic connections in the brain are continuously remodeled in response to neuronal activity. This process, known as synaptic plasticity, is widely accepted as the cellular basis for learning and memory, and it is also critical for the establishment of functional neuronal circuits during development. Additionally, several neurological and neurodegenerative diseases (such as schizophrenia, mental retardation and Alzheimer's disease) have been correlated with deficits in synaptic plasticity. Research in the laboratory is focused on the cellular and molecular processes responsible for synaptic plasticity, as a way to understand basic mechanisms underlying brain development, learning and memory. Recent investigations have demonstrated that synaptic delivery of neurotransmitter receptors belonging to the AMPA class of glutamate receptors is a crucial element for development and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. The research work in the lab concentrates on the mechanisms that regulat