CV and abstract Marco Capogna - B·Debate

CV
SPEAKER AT:
Marco Capogna, MRC Anatomical Neuropharmacology Unit, Oxford, UK
Marco Capogna, PhD in Neuroscience, is a Senior Scientist and Group Leader at the
Medical Research Council, Anatomical Neuropharmacology Unit, Oxford, UK since
2001. He previously held a position as Head of the Neurophysiology Lab. at Novartis
Institute for Medical Sciences, University College, London, UK. He was postdoctoral
fellow at the Brain Research Institute of the University of Zurich, Switzerland. His
research is currently supported by the Medical Research Council and by the Wellcome
Trust, UK. Dr. Capogna’s research aims to understand what neuronal circuitry guides
emotional-dependent behaviours, and how it is modified in animal models of fear and
anxiety disorders. To achieve this goal he studies the functional role of identified
neuronal types of the rodent hippocampus and amygdala with emphasis on GABAergic
neurons. Key research activities are: (i) synaptic transmission between identified
neurons of hippocampus and amygdala, (ii) contribution of identified neurons to
neuronal networks, (iii) pharmacology of GABAergic synapses.

CV
SPEAKER AT:
Theta network oscillations: focus on GABAergic interneurons of amygdala
and hippocampus.
Marco Capogna, MRC Anatomical Neuropharmacology Unit, Oxford, UK
Dr. Capogna's talk will focus on the contribution of specific GABAergic cell types of the
amygdala and hippocampus to the so-called theta network oscillation. This brain
rhythm occurs during REM sleep, arousal, locomotion, mnemonic process, and can be
partially disrupted during neurological and psychiatric diseases. In the first part of the
talk, the speaker will show that different types of GABAergic cells are active at
different phases of neuronal theta oscillations thereby controlling the activity of
postsynaptic cells at different times. In the second part of the talk, Dr. Capogna will
demonstrate that GABA-A receptor-mediated events elicited by various interneuron
types display distinct duration and synaptic plasticity, and that these factors are crucial
in determining their physiological influence on target neurons. Therefore, the
mechanisms underlying the time course and the dynamic properties of inhibitory
synaptic responses will be discussed. In the last part of the talk Dr. Capogna will
present the hypothesis that the oscillatory rhythms of the brain are altered during
disease, and discuss his plans to test this idea.