Physiology and Pharmacology

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Dr Matt Jones

Neuronal networks in cognition and disease

Rhythmic neuronal activity reflects the coordination and interactions of networks of neurons during complex cognitive processes and behaviour. Accordingly, many psychiatric disorders are associated with impaired neural synchrony.

We use specialized 'tetrode' electrodes to record simultaneously from large groups of neurons, measuring synchrony of network activities in anatomically and functionally related circuits, both during normal behaviour and in models of diseases like schizophrenia, Down syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease. 

Research keywords

  • Neuronal networks
  • learning
  • memory

Diseases related to this field of research

  • Schizophrenia
  • Down syndrome
  • depression

Processes and functions relevant to this work

  • Learning and memory
  • Decision-making
  • Sleep

Equipment relevant to this work

  • Multi-channel electrophysiology systems (Neuralynx)

Research findings

  • Hippocampal-prefrontal-parietal interactions over the course of learning
  • Modelling rhythmic network interactions during decision-making (with Rafal Bogacz, Computer Science)
  • Synaptic plasticity during sleep (with Jack Mellor)
  • Coordination of hippocampal-prefrontal activities during spatial learning and memory and sleep in a rat neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia. Read more >
  • Effects of psychotomimetic drugs on hippocampal-prefrontal network activity
  • Effects of cannabinoid receptor activation on coordinated limbic-cortical activity and cognition
  • Electrophysiological and behavioural characterisation of a transchromosomic model of Down Syndrome. Read more >
  • Frontal cortical neurophysiological signatures of response inhibition in a stop-signal task (with Lawrence Wilkinson, Cardiff)
  • Network activity in transgenic models of neurodegenerative diseases (with Andy Randall). Read more >

Collaborations

  • Rafal Bogacz (Computer Science)
  • Nick Whiteley (Maths)
  • Luca Giuggioli (Biology/Eng Maths)
  • Elizabeth Fisher (UCL)
  • Victor Tybulewicz (NIMR)
  • Jenny Morton (University of Cambridge)
  • Mark Tricklebank Keith Wafford Keith Phillips (Eli Lilly & Co)
  • Thomas Steckler John Talpos Pieter Peeters (Janssen Pharmaceutica)
  • Rosalyn Moran (Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging)
  • Lawrence Wilkinson Trevor Humby (Cardiff University)

Organisations