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Research

We investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie the formation and plasticity of synapses and circuitry in animal models of brain disease as well as the human brain.

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Outreach and students@work@MCN

We contribute with our science to the understanding of brain function and disease through publications, at conferences, and by reaching the general public…
Students at MCN contribute to our science…

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About us

The MCN department was initiated in 2003 and in its current form has 35 lab members. MCN is partner in the COsyn consortium, the SUN project, and SynGO. MCN is coordinator of the European innovative doctoral program CognitionNet, and is partner in the EU International training network In-Sens.

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Our latest activities

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Identification of neurons that promote compulsive alcohol use

Michel van den Oever and Esther Visser were involved in a study on compulsive alcohol use led by Markus Heilig and Esi Domi at the Linköping University in Sweden. Using the viral-TRAP technique developed by the CNCR Memory Circuits team, they identified a small population of PKC-delta-expressing neurons in the central amygdala that drives footshock-punished alcohol intake. Their findings are published in Science Advances.
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Glucocorticoids alter the formation of memory engrams

A collaborative study by members of the Memory Circuits team together with the lab of Harm Krugers and Sylvie Lesuis (UvA) reveals that elevated levels of the stress hormone corticosterone induce an increase in the size of a hippocampal fear engram and this change underlies generalized expression of fear in a neutral environment. Their findings were published in Biological Psychiatry.
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Pre-stage of Alzheimer disease neurons characterized

A new study by David Hondius, Frank Koopmans and colleagues provides molecular evidence that so-called granulovacuolar cells are representing the pre-tangle neuronal stage in Alzheimer disease. The study was published in Acta Neuropathologica on January 25, 2021.