Visualizing structural forms of synaptic plasticity
Two-photon excitation fluorescence imaging allows seeing structural changes in adult cortical neurons, for example the formation or elimination of synapses in brain slices but also in vivo, in the whole brain. With support from NC Utrecht this type of research will be further accommodated in Utrecht and be made available to neurophysiologists. As one of the first research questions, the investigators will test if axon guidance proteins affect synaptic strength in the adult hippocampus via alterations in dendritic spines.