Cortico-pallidal Circuitry Function: Optogenetic, Fiber Photometry and Behavioral Studies in Mice

**Cortico-pallidal circuitry function: optogenetic, fiber photometry and behavioral studies in mice**:

- Réf **ABG-129191**
- Sujet de Thèse
- 06/03/2025
- Contrat doctoral
- NeuroSchool, Aix-Marseille Université
- Lieu de travail- Marseille - Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur - France
- Intitulé du sujet- Cortico-pallidal circuitry function: optogenetic, fiber photometry and behavioral studies in mice
- Champs scientifiques- Psychologie, neurosciences
- Biologie
- Santé, médecine humaine, vétérinaire
- Mots clés- neuroscience, neurobiology, cognition, neural networks, brain, behavior, neurodegenerative diseases, ageing,

**Description du sujet**:
**_The NeuroSchool PhD Program of Aix-Marseille University (France) has launched its annual calls for PhD contracts for students with a master's degree in a non-French university and for international co-supervised PhDs._**

**_This project is one of the proposed projects. Not all proposed projects will be funded, check our website for details._**

The external globus pallidus (GPe) is an integral component of the basal ganglia, a highly organized network of subcortical nuclei that form with frontal cortex and the thalamo-cortical system several distinct but partly overlapping loops that control many facets of voluntary motor behaviour. The GPe has long been regarded as a simple relay within the BG, connecting the striatum and the subthalamic nucleus in the indirect pathway. In the past years, a diversity of GABAergic cell types and anatomical connectivity of GPe were uncovered, suggesting that it may rather act as an integrative hub for shaping motor and non-motor aspects of executive goal-directed behavior. More recently, direct projections from the neocortex to GPe were uncovered, indicating that this nucleus provides an entry for cortical information to the BG. Despite surge of interest over the past years, our understanding of the functional significance of the cellular diversity and anatomical connectivity of GPe remains largely incomplete.

The aim of this project is to specify the nature of the functional relationship between the cortex and GPe. We will use a multidisciplinary approach combining original optogenetic tools with calcium imaging and behavioral techniques to selectively manipulate cortico-pallidal projections and GPe neurons in mice and clarify their contribution to cognitive, emotional and motor functions subserved by BG. Transgenic mice (FoxP2-cre and Parvalbumin (PV)-cre) will be used to specifically target FoxP2-expressing and PV-expressing neurons, which represent two distinct populations of GPe projection neurons. Dual-color optogenetic studies with blue and red lights will be used to manipulate conjointly the activity of cortical projections and GPe output neurons and determine when and how cortical topdown control of GPe takes place. Photometric calcium recordings will be conducted in parallel to monitor changes of postsynaptic cortico-pallidal transmission. As well as enhancing our understanding of how cortico-pallidal circuits contribute to implementation of appropriate goal-directed behavior, this project will also provide new grounds that may guide development of more effective and well-tailored DBS treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders.

**Prise de fonction**:

- 01/10/2025

**Nature du financement**:

- Contrat doctoral

**Précisions sur le financement**:

- 3 years

**Présentation établissement et labo d'accueil**:

- NeuroSchool, Aix-Marseille Université

Within **Aix Marseille Université, NeuroMarseille**brings together 8 research laboratories and NeuroSchool, a graduate school in neuroscience, to increase the attractiveness of the university, international collaborations, interdisciplinarity, links with the clinical and industrial worlds and the integration of students into professional life.

Launched in July 2018, **NeuroSchool**unifies and harmonizes the training of the third year of the Bachelor of Life Sciences (Neuroscience track), the Master's and the PhD in Neuroscience.

**Site web**:
**Intitulé du doctorat**:

- Doctorat de neurosciences

**Pays d'obtention du doctorat**:

- France

**Etablissement délivrant le doctorat**:

- Aix Marseille Université

**Ecole doctorale**:

- Sciences de la vie et de la santé
- Master's degree from a non-French university in neuroscience or related field
- Fluent in English

knowledge in optogenetic or fiber photometry, behavioral analysis, immunochemistry, Matlab or python programming.- 14/04/2025