Dupret Group
Our research group studies how neural activity in the hippocampus and connected brain regions supports memory-guided behaviour, enabling individuals to infer from past experience how to respond to ever-changing life situations.
The idea that groups of distributed neurons transiently coordinate their spiking activity to organize information-representing cell assemblies is central to our investigations. Our laboratory uses a transdisciplinary approach that combines multichannel electrophysiological recordings during behaviour with optogenetic and real-time (closed-loop) manipulations of brain circuit dynamics. The group performs circuit-level analyses to: (i) determine how neural representations of the external world are computed, consolidated and recalled for the purpose of memory-guided behaviour; (ii) establish the mnemonic contribution of oscillatory patterns of network activity (e.g., theta, gamma, sharp wave/ripples); and (iii) define neuronal motifs and pathways supporting memory-guided behaviour. We perform this work while keeping in mind that not all memories serve adaptive behaviour. This is notably the case for memories that are related to experiences of drugs of abuse, and those memories that underpin maladaptive responses. Accordingly, our work is intended to provide principles of interventions aimed at rebalancing network physiopathology of maladaptive memory.
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In vivo study of memory circuits
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Mnemonic role of neuronal ensembles and oscillations
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Multichannel recordings and associated data analyses
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Cell-type-selective and input-defined optogenetics
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Memory-guided behaviour
We are committed to fostering an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity and promotes equal opportunity within our group and the wider MRC BNDU.
Electrophysiological data recorded from mouse hippocampus, showing activity dynamics important for memory.
In2scienceUK student gets involved with neuroanatomy research at the MRC BNDU.
Like other Groups at the MRC BNDU, we are committed to best practice in open research. We have created and curated a range of primary data, metadata and related resources that can be readily downloaded by external users from the MRC BNDU's Data Sharing Platform. We highlight below just a few examples of the datasets and other resources we have shared for the benefit of our stakeholders.
