Institute for Synaptic Physiology (ISP)

Location: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), Falkenried 94, 20251 Hamburg

Description: We investigate dynamic changes in synaptic strength and connectivity that underlie our ability to learn and to remember. Optical imaging of fluorescent proteins and genetically encoded sensors is a powerful method to measure functional changes with single-synapse resolution. We believe it is important to observe nerve cells in their natural habitat, surrounded by different types of glia cells, as synaptic signaling is strongly affected by the activity of these non-neuronal cells. Two-photon microscopy is able to deliver sharp images deep inside highly scattering brain tissue. For questions that require information from the whole mouse brain, we use SHIELD tissue clearing followed by light-sheet microscopy.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Thomas Oertner, thomas.oertner{at}zmnh.uni-hamburg.de

Webpage: https://www.uke.de/english/departments-institutes/institutes/synaptic-physiology/research/index.html