The role of mesocortical projections in age-related cognitive decline – DOPAGE
Mesocortical projections from the ventral tegmental area to the prefrontal cortex are suggested to participate in working memory cognitive decline. The DOPAGE project will investigate through in-depth behavioral and anatomical analysis the involvement of mesocortical neurons in age-related cognitive decline in both male and female mice. We hypothesize subtle compensatory changes in mesocortical neurons underlie inter-individual differences in WM performance in older individuals. We will characterize the functional involvement of two subpopulations of mesocortical inputs : dopamine and glutamate neurons. We will investigate their respective functional roles through optogenetics, in order to rescue WM performance in cognitively impaired individuals and provide a mechanism underlying inter-individual differences during aging. Overall, our project will provide knowledge on how aging affects mesocortical cellular subpopulations in both sexes and how those may participate in working memory deficits.
Project coordination
Satoru Otani (Institut de la vision)
The author of this summary is the project coordinator, who is responsible for the content of this summary. The ANR declines any responsibility as for its contents.
Partner
ICM Institut du cerveau
IdV Institut de la vision
IdV Institut de la vision
Help of the ANR 435,062 euros
Beginning and duration of the scientific project:
October 2022
- 42 Months