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Behavioral
measurements and training of animals
Measuring the
behavior of
highly dynamic and complex systems such as living animals is one of the
most challenging tasks of cognitive sciences. In our group we use
laboratory settings to systematically investigate cognitive functions
and mechanisms underlying the behavior of avian species, and in
particular of domestic chicks. In addition we use well controlled
behavioral tasks, both involving trained and spontaneous responses, in
conjunction with neurobiological technics to study the brain circuits
controlling behavior.
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Neuronanatomical
and
histological preparations
In order to
investigate the neuroanatomy and neurobiology of the avian brain, we
employ techniques for fixation, cryosectioning and histological
preparation of the brain tissue for visualization under microscope.
This is done while preserving the correct orientation of the brain and
allowing to localize specific brain areas at given stereotactic
coordinates, in correspondence to brain atlases.
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Immunohistochemistry and neuroanatomy
We
use several staining procedures to distinguish specific cell types
based on protein and RNA distributions, in combination with
histochemical reactions to visualize neuronal structures.
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Mapping
neuronal activity on the basis of immediate early gene products
Immediate
early genes (IEGs) are a class of genes that a rapidly expressed in
response to neuronal activations and thus provide a useful tool to
visualize populations of neurons activated in response to a specific
behavioral task. IEG products like the c-Fos protein can be detected by
immunohistochemistry. The expression of c-Fos is also involved in
long-term neuronal modifications, which characterize neuronal
plasticity underlying learning and memory. We frequently use this
method to identify brain regions involved in control of different
behaviours.
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Lesioning
and Tracing
A
complementary technique to the visualization of IEG products is the use
of focal brain lesions at stereotactically determined coordinates to
inactivate specific brain regions, in order to observe the
corresponding changes in behavior. This can be done with electrolytic
lesions or by microinjections of chemicals. A similar technique can
also be used to inject neuronal tracers to visualize afferent and
efferent projections of a given brain region and investigate its
neuronal connectivity.
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Electrophysiology
Neuronal
activity can also be directly investigated recording the neuronal
action potentials in response to specific stimuli and during behavioral
tasks. We use extracellular single unit recordings in combination with
low field potentials to study the functional response properties of
specific brain regions.
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