Thesis Project Form

In vivo, the interplay between cortical and hippocampal areas is essential for proper brain function, supporting processes such as learning and memory. Alterations in this communication, for example in the presence of tumor cells, can lead to network dysfunction. Studying these interactions in vitro provides a controlled environment to investigate how pathological conditions affect neuronal connectivity and organization.

The project aims to investigate how the presence of tumor-like cells influences the functional communication between cortical and hippocampal neurons in vitro. The student will perform electrophysiological recordings and electrical stimulations on co-cultures to evaluate possible alterations in network dynamics. Morphological analyses will complement functional data to identify structural changes associated with impaired connectivity. The work will focus on data acquisition, processing, and interpretation to extract quantitative information on network behavior.

Cell culture and co-culture techniques; Microscopy and morphological analysis; MEA-based recordings and electrical stimulations; Data processing and quantitative analysis of neuronal network activity.