Geneva University Neurocenter

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Anthony Holtmaat

Function: Professeur ordinaire

Group name: Structural synaptic plasticity

Group type: Main

Affiliations: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Basic Neurosciences

Domains: Sensory and Motor Systems, Development and Plasticity

Keywords: brain networks, cranial window implants, synapse, synaptic plasticity

Department of Basic Neurosciences

Research activities

Our laboratory is interested in structural and morphological aspects of synaptic plasticity in the adult brain. We are testing the hypothesis that changes in the connectivity between neurons, through synapse formation and elimination, constitute a basis for training and experience-dependent adaptations in cortical network function. To this end we image cortical neurons in fluorescent transgenic mice in vivo and are able to track individual dendritic spines and axonal boutons over weeks while the animal receives new sensory experiences or loses sensory inputs. In addition we measure the molecular stability and dynamics of individual synapses by following the transport and diffusion of synaptic proteins carrying a fluorescent tag. Together these studies will deepen our understanding of how the nervous system is able to, on one hand maintain its synaptic network, and on the other hand subtly change its connectivity, in order to accommodate the animal’s memory storage as well as its ability to continuously adapt to an ever-changing environment.

Latest publications

Bimodal modulation of L1 interneuron activity in anterior cingulate cortex during fear conditioning.

Fossati G , Kiss-Bodolay D , Prados J , Chéreau R , Husi E , Cadilhac C , Gomez L , Silva BA , Dayer A , Holtmaat A

Frontiers in neural circuits - 2023

A brain atlas of synapse protein lifetime across the mouse lifespan.

Bulovaite E , Qiu Z , Kratschke M , Zgraj A , Fricker DG , Tuck EJ , Gokhale R , Koniaris B , Jami SA , Merino-Serrais P , Husi E , Mendive-Tapia L , Vendrell M , O'Dell TJ , DeFelipe J , Komiyama NH , Holtmaat A , Fransén E , Grant SGN

Neuron - Dec 2022

A subpopulation of cortical VIP-expressing interneurons with highly dynamic spines.

Georgiou C , Kehayas V , Lee KS , Brandalise F , Sahlender DA , Blanc J , Knott G , Holtmaat A

Communications biology - Apr 2022

Dendritic Branch-constrained N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor-mediated Spikes Drive Synaptic Plasticity in Hippocampal CA3 Pyramidal Cells.

Brandalise F , Carta S , Leone R , Helmchen F , Holtmaat A , Gerber U

Neuroscience - May 2022

See the complete list of the publications

Hide the members of the Lab

Prof. Anthony Holtmaat

Group leader

CMU - C08.1541.A
+41 22 37 95 428
anthony.holtmaat@unige.ch

Tanika Bawa

Graduate student

CMU - E08.2650.A
+41 22 37 95 445
tanika.bawa@unige.ch

Ronan Chereau

Postdoc

CMU - D08.1953.A
+41 22 37 95 469
ronan.chereau@unige.ch

Céline Dürst

Scientific collaborator

CMU - E08.2452.A
+41 22 37 95 469
celine.durst@unige.ch

Elodie Husi

Lab technician

CMU - E08.2650.A
+41 22 37 95 445
elodie.husi@unige.ch

Kok Sin Lee

Assistant

CMU - E08.2650.A
+41 22 37 95 445
kok.lee@unige.ch

Foivos Markopoulos

Scientific collaborator

CMU - C08.1536.A
+41 22 37 95 355
foivos.markopoulos@unige.ch

Contact

Faculté de médecine
Université de Genève
Email: Anthony.Holtmaat@unige.ch