Open Competition Domain Science funds curiosity driven fundamental research form all the disciplines of the Science Domain. M-grants are intended for innovative, high-quality, fundamental research and/or studies involving matters of scientific urgency.

The UvA Faculty of Science project that received a grant is: 

The effect of stress hormones on memory-encoding brain cells

Dr Harm Krugers & Dr Michel van den Oever (UvA/VU)

Stressful experiences are generally remembered well, but such memories are often less precise, which results in memory generalization (recall of the stressful event when this is not relevant). This effect is mediated by stress-hormones. We will investigate how stress-hormones enhance memory generalization by studying the properties of the specific cells in the brain that store a memory. For this, we examine their specific cellular properties, their connections, and how we can reverse effects of stress hormones to prevent memory generalization.