Thesis Project Form

This project is part of a collaboration with the Neurophysics Lab directed by Prof. Jordi Soriano at the University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. The aim is to investigate the spontaneous activity of in vitro neural networks to understand whether and how pathological patterns emerge in the framework of neurological disorders (e.g. Huntington Disease, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer).

The thesis work capitalizes on datasets already available in the Neurophysics Lab, but new experiments will be performed to allow the student to get familiar with different experimental techniques to prepare neuronal networks in vitro, either from primary mouse/rat cells or induced pluripotent stem cells, and monitor their activity using fluorescence imaging and high-density multielectrode arrays.

The project will focus on the following main tasks:
- In vitro experiments
Experiments with in vitro cultures of neurons and calcium imaging and/or high density microelectrode arrays acquisitions.
- Matlab-based algorithms for the analysis of complex networks
Neuronal data, either from calcium imaging experiments or high-density MEA systems will be processed using the tools available in the Lab. Further analysis will be performed and implemented by the assignee.
- Functional Connectivity Investigation
As an additional step to the analysis, the functional connectivity tools available in the hosting lab will be made available to better understand the structural/functional differences of pathological vs healthy networks.

The knowledge gained during this project will help to understand the cellular basis of neurological disorders and will promote the development of experimental models able to reproduce in vitro the functional organization of in vivo/human neuronal circuits.

1. Experimental skills: electrophysiology, calcium imaging
2. Mixed software skills (e.g. MATLAB)
3. Neurophysiological data analysis techniques