The department of Integrative Neurophysiology studies mechanisms of plasticity and dynamics of neuronal networks underlying sensory information processing and cognition.
We want to understand how events at the synaptic and cellular levels are involved in behaviour. To reach this goal, we take a multidisciplinary approach in which we combine electrophysiological recordings and imaging from single neurons and networks of neurons with behaviour. By using molecular interventions and assessing the consequences at different levels of organization, we try to get an understanding of the causal relationships between activity of synapses, 
neurons, neuronal networks, and cognitive behaviour.
In the lab, we use a variety of approaches, including in vitro and in vivo patch clamp techniques, two-photon imaging, human EEG and fMRI recordings, behavioural tests and in silico modelling and simulations.
INF is partner in the Dutch Neurobasic Mouse Phenomics consortium, is partner in the European consortium SynSys, as well as partner in the EU training networks Brain train.
Currently, about 30 scientists are working in the department in 4 research teams (Mansvelder, Linkenkaer-Hansen, Meredith, De Kock).
A selection of recent papers by the department (members of the department are underlined):
1. Guillem K, Bloem B*, Poorthuis RB*, Loos M, Smit AB, Maskos U, Spijker S*, Mansvelder HD*. (2011). Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor β2-subunits in the medial prefrontal cortex control attention. Science.
2. Rao-Ruiz P*, Rotaru DC*, Van der Loo, RJ, Mansvelder HD, Stiedl O, Smit AB, Spijker S (2011) Dorsohippocampal retrieval-specific endocytosis of GluA2 containing AMPARs is critical for reconsolidation of emotional memories. Nature Neuroscience.
3. Witte S, Negrean A, Lodder JC, de Kock CP, Testa-Silva G, Mansvelder HD*, Groot ML* (2011) Label-free live brain imaging and targeted patching with third-harmonic generation microscopy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 108(15):5970-5.
4. Counotte DS*, Goriounova NA*, Li KW, Loos M, Van der Schors R, Schetters D, Schoffelmeer ANM, Smit AB, Mansvelder HD*, Pattij T*, Spijker S* (2011) Lasting synaptic changes underlie attention deficits caused by nicotine exposure during adolescence. Nature Neuroscience, 14(4):417-9.
5. Oberlaender M, Boudewijns ZS, Kleele T, Mansvelder HD, Sakmann B, De Kock CP (2011) 3D axon morphologies of individual Layer 5 pyramidal neurons indicate cell type-specific intracortical pathways for whisker motion and touch. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 108(10):4188-93.
6. De Kock CP, Sakmann B. (2009) Spiking in primary somatosensory cortex during natural whisking in awake head-restrained rats is cell-type specific. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 106:16446-50.
7. Montez T*, Poil SS*, Jones BF, Manshanden I, Verbunt JP, van Dijk BW, Brussaard AB, van Ooyen A, Stam CJ, Scheltens P, Linkenkaer-Hansen K. (2009) Altered temporal correlations in parietal alpha and prefrontal theta oscillations in early-stage Alzheimer disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 106(5):1614-9.
8. Van den Oever MC*, Goriounova NA*, Li KW, Van der Schors RC, Binnekade R, Schoffelmeer AN, Mansvelder HD, Smit AB, Spijker S, De Vries TJ. (2008) Prefrontal cortex AMPA receptor plasticity is crucial for cue-induced relapse to heroin-seeking. Nature Neuroscience, 11:1053-8.
9. Meredith RM*, Holmgren CD*, Weidum M, Burnashev N, Mansvelder HD. (2007) Increased threshold for spike-timing-dependent plasticity is caused by unreliable calcium signaling in mice lacking fragile X gene FMR1. Neuron. 54:627-38.
10. Couey JJ, Meredith RM, Spijker S, Poorthuis RB, Smit AB, Brussaard AB, Mansvelder HD. (2007) Distributed network actions by nicotine increase the threshold for spike-timing-dependent plasticity in prefrontal cortex. Neuron. 54:73-87.
- shared authorship
