Thesis supervisor: Balázs Pál
Location of studies (in Hungarian): University of Debrecen, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology Abbreviation of location of studies: DEÉI
Description of the research topic:
The reticular activating system (RAS) is a group of nuclei which is fundamentally responsible for the regulation of the sleep-wake cycles. Regulating factors produced during the homeostatic sleep regulation are capable of influencing excitability of neurons in the RAS; both acting directly on neurons and indirectly via glial cells.
Potassium channels significantly determining neuronal excitability (as M-current and A-current) are present in cholinergic nuclei of the RAS, and these currents determine functional subgroups within these neurons.
The task of the PhD candidate will be the investigation of neuromodulatory mechanisms, acting directly on neurons or indirectly via astrocytes and microglia on neuronal M- or A-currents. Experimental methods for these experiments cover slice- and block-electrophysiology, optogenetics, calcium imaging, breeding and usage of transgenic mouse strains, immunohistochemistry, cell reconstruction, as well as in vivo methods which will be introduced in our laboratory later. There is an optional possibility to participate in national and international collaborations as well.
Required language skills: English intermediate level Number of students who can be accepted: 1
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