Download Investigation into the network basis of ‘signal-to-noise’ processing in hippocampus using high throughput in vivo electrophysiological recording

NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering
Research Project Write-up
Title of Project :
A. Investigation into the network basis of ‘signal-to-noise’
processing in hippocampus using high throughput in vivo
electrophysiological recording
B. Involvement of the forebrain theta network of structures
in acute and chronic pain
Name of Supervisor :
Sanjay Khanna
Contact Details:
Tel: 6516-3665; 6516-8173
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Short Description
A. The proposal will compare a newer recording technology vis-à-vis an established
recording technology while testing the hypothesis that entorhinal cortex modulates (a)
animal nociceptive (pain) behaviors, (b) processing of nociceptive information in the
hippocampus, and (c) pain-induced spinal plasticity. During investigations the effects
of manipulations of the entorhinal cortex will be compared with the manipulation of
select brain regions such as the medial septum and the hypothalamic
supramammillary nucleus in acute and/or chronic rat models of pain.
The successful conclusion of the study will help establish the newer technology as a
significant electrophysiological recording tool and bring out the role of the entorhinal
cortex in pain.
B. The proposal will test the hypothesis that a network of related structures is a basis
of both acute and chronic pain. The structures of interest include the medial septum
(MS) and the supramammillary nucleus (SuM) both of which are implicated in
synchronization of neuronal activity in the forebrain regions, such as the
hippocampus, to noxious stimuli. To test the hypothesis, experiments will be done
wherein indices of pain- such as activity of CNS neurons, changes in neurochemistry
and animal behavior- will be monitored in conjunction with inhibition or activation of
MS and SuM.
The successful conclusion of the study will not only strengthen the hypothesis, but
also suggest a basis for the analgesic role of selected drugs.