Lines of investigation
How are memories encoded, stored and retrieved in our brains?
Experience-dependent modulations of synaptic strength shape the functional structure of the brain, recruiting relevant networks in a particular context and supporting behavioural adaptation. Little is known, however, about how synapse dynamics are transformed into network dynamics. The work of our lab has demonstrated that brain circuits involved in learning and memory are functionally reorganized after local potentiation of synaptic transmission in the hippocampus. We are currently investigating the mechanisms underlying this network reorganization, focusing on short- and long-term synaptic plasticity and the excitatory/inhibitory balance in specific brain regions. In doing so, we study the mechanism that govern information routing in the complex network of parallel and highly distributed connections implemented in the brain. We use different animal models and combine functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with electrophysiological recordings, electric or optogenetic stimulations of targeted regions, and behavioural testing.
The same cellular mechanisms that mediate experience-dependent neuroplasticity and allow learning from, and react to, changes in the environment can also be activated by drugs of abuse. Human and animal studies indicate that the refractory nature of addiction results from drug-induced stimulation of reward-related learning networks. As a consequence, drug seeking behaviour becomes hard-wired in the addict’s brain. By applying the same multidisciplinary approach, we are investigating the functional reorganization of brain networks supporting addiction and relapse.
Representative Publications
- The role of feedforward and feedback inhibition in modulating theta-gamma cross-frequency interactions in neural circuits. Chalkiadakis D, Sánchez-Claros J, López-Madrona VJ, Canals S and Mirasso CR. PLoS Computational Biology. 2025 21(8): e1013363 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013363
- NAc-DBS selectively enhances memory updating without effect on retrieval. Andrés Pérez-Segura, Jorge Medina, Antonio Cerdán Cerdá, Cristina Sánchez-Ferri, Daniel Torres, Claudio R. Mirasso, Bryan Strange, Víctor M. Eguíluz, Lucas Lacasa & Santiago Canals. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2025 50: 1420–1429 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-025-02132-0
- Protocol to study brain dynamics of mammals through the hierarchy of complex correlation patterns defining a robust functional architecture. Levente Varga , Balázs Péntek, Botond Molnár , Laura Perez-Cervera , Mohamed Kotb Selim , Antonio Díaz-Parra , David Moratal, Wolfgang H. Sommer, Santiago Canals , Raul C. Mureșan, Vasile V. Moca3 , Maria Ercsey-Ravasz. Protocol. 2025 6(2): art. number 103693 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2025.103693
- Brain dynamics supported by a hierarchy of complex correlation patterns defining a robust functional architecture. Varga L, Moca VV, Molnár B, Perez-Cervera L, Selim MK, Díaz-Parra A, Moratal D, Péntek B, Sommer WH, Muresan RC, Canals S and Ercsey-Ravasz M. Cell Systems. 2024 15(8), 770-786.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cels.2024.07.003
- Influence of temporal information gaps on decision making: describing the dynamics of working memory. Sospedra A, Canals S, Marcos E. bioRxiv. 2024 in press https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.07.17.603868
- Alcohol-induced damage to the fimbria/fornix reduces hippocampal-prefrontal cortex connection during early abstinence. Pérez-Cervera L, De Santis S, Marcos E, Ghorbanzad-Ghaziany Z, Trouvé-Carpena A, Kotb Selim M, Pérez-Ramírez U, Pfarr S, Bach P, Halli P, Kiefer F, Moratal D, Kirsch P, Sommer W.H & Canals S. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2023 11, art. nº 101 ( junio 2023) https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-023-01597-8
- Mapping microglia and astrocyte activation in vivo using diffusion MRI Raquel Garcia-Hernandez, Antonio Cerdán Cerdá, Alejandro Trouve Carpena , Mark Drakesmith2, Kristin Koller, Derek K Jones , Santiago Canals , Silvia De Santis Sci Adv. 2022 8(21):eabq2923 https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abq2923
- Nootropic effects of LSD: Behavioral, molecular and computational evidence. Ornelas, I.M., Cini, F.A., Wießner, I., Marcos, E., Araújo, D.B., Goto-Silva, L., Nascimento, J., Silva, S.R.B., Costa, M.N., Falchi, M., Olivieri, R., Palhano-Fontes, F., Sequerra, E., Martins-de-Souza, D., Feilding, A., Rennó-Costa, C., Tófoli, L.F., Rehen, S.K., Ribeiro, S. Exp Neurol. 2022 356: art. 114148 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114148
- Different theta frameworks coexist in the rat hippocampus and are coordinated during memory-guided and novelty tasks López-Madrona VJ, Pérez-Montoyo E, Álvarez-Salvado E, Moratal D, Herreras O, Pereda E, Mirasso CR, Canals S eLife 2020 9:e57313 https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.57313
- KAT3-dependent acetylation of cell type-specific genes maintains neuronal identity in the adult mouse brain Lipinski M, Muñoz-Viana R, Del Blanco B, Marquez-Galera A, Medrano-Relinque J, Caramés JM, Szczepankiewicz AA, Fernandez-Albert J, Navarrón CM, Olivares R, Wilczyński GM, Canals S, Lopez-Atalaya JP, Barco A Nat Commun 2020 11(1):2588 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16246-0
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