Understanding the Mechanisms of Memory
A mouse running in a virtual world: A key feature of The Sheffield Lab.
CA1 Pyramidal cells
CA3 axons in CA1
The main goal of our lab is to investigate and understand the neurobiology of complex memory formation, consolidation, and recall from the level of synapses and dendrites to large-scale ensembles of neurons and circuits.
The significance of memory
The capacity to acquire, store and recall knowledge of the world through experience and use this knowledge to maximize reward and avoid danger is essential for survival. In humans, this ability is fundamental to our sense of self and is in large part what makes us who we are. The brain’s memory systems are also vulnerable to diseases, such as such as Alzheimer’s diseases, Schizophrenia, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Stroke, that affect millions of people. If we are to adequately treat memory disorders, then we first need to understand the neurobiological processes that underlie memory function.
Our general Approach
Our experiments largely involve mice engaging with virtual worlds. We design experiments to capture the real-time neural processes that occur as mice form and recall memories. We use a variety of techniques and methods to identify the specific neurons and circuits that participate in specific memories. We then measure and manipulate these neurons and circuits in real-time before, during, and following memory formation and recall. The regions of interest we focus on include hippocampal CA1, CA3, and DG, as well as axonal projections from EC, VTA, LC, and Thalamus.