Molecular cellular cognition

Molecular cellular cognition

Molecular cellular cognition (MCC) is that branch of neuroscience that deals with the study of cognitive processes with approaches that integrate molecular, cellular and behavioral mechanisms. Key goals of MCC studies include the derivation of molecular and cellular explanations of cognitive processes, as well as finding mechanisms and treatments for cognitive disorders.

Although closely connected with behavioral genetics, MCC emphasizes the integration of molecular and cellular explanations of behaviour, instead of focusing on the connections between genes and behavior.

Unlike cognitive neuroscience, which historically has focused on the connection between human brain systems and behavior, the field of MCC has used model organisms, such as mice, to study how molecular (ie. receptor, kinase activation, phosphatase regulation), intra-cellular (i.e. dendritic processes), and inter-cellular processes (i.e. synaptic plasticity; network representations such as place fields) modulate cognitive function.

Methods employed in MCC include (but are not limited to) transgenic organisms (i.e. mice), viral vectors, pharmacology, in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology, optogenetics, in vivo imaging, and behavioral analysis. Modeling is becoming an essential component of the field because of the complexity of the multilevel data generated.

Contents

Scientific roots

The field of MCC has its roots in the pioneering studies of the role of NMDA receptor in long-term potentiation and spatial learning. The studies that crystallized the field used knock out mice to look at the role of the alpha calcium calmodulin kinase II and FYN kinase in hippocampal long-term potentiation and spatial learning. The field has expanded to include a large array of molecules including CREB.

Foundation of the science

MCC became an organized field with the formation of the Molecular Cellular Cognition Society, an organization with no membership fees and meetings that emphasize the participation of junior scientists. Its first meeting took place in Orlando, Florida on November first, 2002. As of August, 2009 the society had organized 16 meetings in North America, Europe and Asia, and included more than 1600 members.

References

External links

See also


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Molecular neuroscience — is a branch of neuroscience that examines the biology of the nervous system with molecular biology, molecular genetics, protein chemistry and related methodologies.[1] Molecular biology studies how deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) forms ribonucleic… …   Wikipedia

  • Cognition — In science, cognition refers to mental processes. These processes include attention, remembering, producing and understanding language, solving problems, and making decisions. Cognition is studied in various disciplines such as psychology,… …   Wikipedia

  • Santiago Theory of Cognition — Biologists, Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela contributed their Santiago theory of cognition in which they wrote:Living systems are cognitive systems, and living as a process is a process of cognition. This statement is valid for all… …   Wikipedia

  • Molecular evolution — Part of a series on Evolutionary Biology …   Wikipedia

  • Cellular automaton — A cellular automaton (plural: cellular automata) is a discrete model studied in computability theory, mathematics, theoretical biology and microstructure modeling. It consists of a regular grid of cells , each in one of a finite number of states …   Wikipedia

  • Neuroscience — For the journal, see Neuroscience (journal). Drawing by Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1899) of neurons in the pigeon cerebellum Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system.[1] Traditionally, neuroscience has been se …   Wikipedia

  • Outline of neuroscience — The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to neuroscience: Neuroscience – an interdisciplinary science that studies the nervous system.[1] Contents 1 Nervous system 1.1 Central nervous system …   Wikipedia

  • Neuroinformatics — is a research field concerned with the organization of neuroscience data by the application of computational models and analytical tools. These areas of research are important for the integration and analysis of increasingly large volume, high… …   Wikipedia

  • Neuroethology — Echolocation in bats is one model system in neuroethology Neuroethology (from Greek νεῦρον neuron nerve and ἦθος ethos habit or custom ) …   Wikipedia

  • Neuroplasticity — Contrary to common ideas as expressed in this diagram, brain functions are not confined to certain fixed locations. Neuroplasticity is a non specific neuroscience term referring to the ability of the brain and nervous system in all species to… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”