Abstract
How sensory stimuli are processed by neural networks is a key question of neuroscience. Olfactory conditioning experiments in mice demonstrated that odour processing is fast and stimulus-dependent. Selective genetic perturbation of the inhibitory circuitry in the first relay station of olfactory processing, the olfactory bulb, altered such discrimination times, with increased inhibition accelerating and decreased inhibition slowing down odour discrimination. This illustrates that inhibition fulfils a key role in sensory processing.
About the authors
1988-1998: Medical studies, Ruprecht-Karls University, Heidelberg, on a scholarship from the German National Academic Foundation.1992-1997: Doctoral thesis under Prof. Dr. Peter H. Seeburg, Center for Molecular Biology at the University of Heidelberg (ZMBH).1998-2000: Post-doctoral student under Prof. George Augustine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC and Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA; Feodor-Lynen scholarship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, scholarship from the“Human Frontiers in Science Program”, Grass Fellowship in Neurosciences.2000-2006: Principal Investigator, Department of Cell Physiology, Prof. Dr. Bert Sakmann, Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg; Claussen-Simon Foundation scholarship.2002-2005: Principal Investigator in the interdisciplinary research group“WIN-Olfactory Dynamics Group” and programme of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences.2003: Awarded Professorship in Physiology, Heidelberg University. Since 2006: Professor at the Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University.
1995-2000: Studied Physics (subsidiary subject: Cell Biology) at the Ruprecht-Karls University, Heidelberg, on a scholarship from the German National Academic Foundation.2000-2001: Research associate, Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford, UK.2001-2004: PhD in Biology, MPI for Medical Research, University of Heidelberg, under Bert Sakmann on a scholarship from the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds and the“WIN Kolleg” programme of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences.2004-2007: Post-doctoral student under Troy Margrie, Department of Physiology, University College London, UK, supported by the Leopoldina Academy of Sciences and EMBO.2007-2008: David Phillips Fellow and Principal Investigator, Department of Physiology, UCL, UKSince 2008: Max Planck Research Group Leader, MPI for Medical Research, Heidelberg2009: Appointment to the Research Professorship for Neurosciences, Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg.
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