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Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences

Cellular and Computational Neuroscience

Group leader prof. Helmut Kessels

The brain has the unique capacity to process information and translates it into behavior. To increase our understanding of brain function, we investigate functional and structural connectivity in the brain by using electrophysiology and imaging techniques. We study how synaptic strength and network activity are changed from developmental stages to the aged brain. In addition, we investigate how dysfunction in cellular and network activity contributes to brain disorders. To educate students on the fundamental principles of brain function, we organize a master track called “Physiology of Synapses and Networks" (PSN).
Cellular and Computational Neuroscience
Cooking workshop Kessels group
The Kessels group during a cooking workshop

Research at Cellular and Computational Neurosciences

See Research Lines for an overview of ongoing research in our group.

Education

Master track Physiology of Synapses and Networks (PSN)

In the PSN master track, we provide an overview of the fundamental principles of cellular neurophysiology, synaptic communication and synaptic plasticity, and explain how these processes control network activity, memory formation and behavior. We discuss how modulators of synaptic plasticity, like noradrenalin, dopamine or endocannabinoids, influence network activity and memory formation. Several pathological conditions, like Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy will be explored. For instance we will look into how synapses that are corrupted by amyloid-beta, the prime suspect to cause Alzheimer’s disease and can subsequently cause memory dysfunction. Moreover, cellular and network mechanisms of the endocannabinoid system will be explored.

Find more information on the PSN master track via this link.