Klausberger, Thomas

Department: Division of Cognitive Neurobiology
Head: Klausberger, Thomas, Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr.

Research Area:
Cortical Networks

Description:

The prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus have been implicated in several higher-order cognitive functions including working memory, associative learning, executive control, decision making and goal directed behaviour, selective attention and conceptual categorisation. Damage to the prefrontal cortex or hippocampus in humans causes personality and social difficulties, memory deficits or a decline in moral judgment. Furthermore, dysfunctions in the prefrontal cortex or hippocampus are implicated in several diseases including schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy as well as drug addiction. Neuronal computation in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus is delivered by the coordinated input output transformation carried via neuronal assemblies coordinated on various time scales. Disorders of cortical function often can be recognised as disorders of temporal coordination. The flow of information in the cerebral cortex is mediated by the activity of glutamatergic pyramidal cells. Their precise spike timing and firing rates are controlled by GABAergic interneurons and organised in behaviourally-dependent network oscillations at various frequencies. In our research group we investigate how neuronal network operations in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus enable complex cognitive processes including learning and decision making. We record the temporal activity of identified GABAergic interneurons and pyramidal cells in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus and investigate their contribution to network oscillations and cognitive tasks. We have shown that distinct types of cortical neuron contribute differentially to synaptic circuits, network timing and cognitive behaviour, generating cell assemblies and higher representations in the cortex.

Members:

Hauer, Romana
Lasztoczi, Balint, Assoc. Prof., PhD
Malagon-Vina, Hugo, Dipl.-Ing., PhD

Selected Publications of Principle Investigator:

1. Lasztoczi B, Klausberger T. (2014) Layer-Specific GABAergic Control of Distinct Gamma Oscillations in the CA1 Hippocampus. Neuron, 81: 1126-1139
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2. Lapray D, Lasztoczi B, Lagler M, Viney TJ, Katona L, Valenti O, Hartwich K, Borhegyi Z, Somogyi P, Klausberger T, (2012) Behavior-dependent specialization of identified hippocampal interneurons. Nature Neurosci, 15: 1265-71
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3. Fuentealba P, Begum R, Capogna M, Jinno S, Márton L F, Csicsvari J, Thomson A, Somogyi P, Klausberger T, (2008) Ivy cells: a population of nitric-oxide-producing, slow-spiking GABAergic neurons and their involvement in hippocampal network activity. Neuron, 57: 917-929
4. Klausberger T, Somogyi P, (2008) Neuronal diversity and temporal dynamics: the unity of hippocampal circuit operations. Science, 321: 53-57
5. Klausberger T, Magill P J, Márton L F, Roberts J.D.B, Cobden P M, Buzsáki G, Somogyi P, (2003) Brain state- and cell type-specific firing of hippocampal interneurons in vivo. Nature, 421: 844-848