Anthony Holtmaat

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

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

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

Postdoc

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

I-Wen Chen

Postdoc

CMU - E08.2452.A
+41 22 37 95 469
i-wen.chen@unige.ch

Ronan Chereau

Maître Assistant

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

Vaibhav Chippalkatti

PhD Candidate

CMU - E08.2650.A
+41 22 37 95 445
vaibhav.chippalkatti@unige.ch

Pablo De Chambrier

Master student

CMU - E08.2452.A
+41 22 37 95 469
pablo.de-chambrier@etu.unige.ch

Céline Dürst

Ambizione Fellow

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

Elisavet Mandora

Master Student

CMU - E08.2452.A
+41 22 37 95 469
elisavet.mandora@etu.unige.ch

Claudia Morin Raig

Research Assistant

CMU - E08.2452.A
+41 22 37 95 469
claudia.morinraig@unige.ch

Kok Sin Lee

Postdoc

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

Andrea Valderrama Alvarez

PhD Candidate

CMU - E08.2452.A
+41 22 37 95 469
andrea.valderramaalvarez@unige.ch

David Van Oorschot

PhD Candidate

CMU - E08.2452.A
+41 22 37 95 469
david.vanoorschot@unige.ch

Contact

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