NCCR-Synapsy

The Synaptic Bases of Mental Diseases

ASD : Protein synthesis as a possible biomarker

Eleonora Rosina

Eleonora Rosina   Highlight from the Bagni’s Lab Genes encoding for proteins involved in synaptic protein synthesis seem to contribute to the development of Autism Spectrum Disorders. They are now suspected as early biomarkers. Eleonora Rosina, a PhD student in Read more…


Social dopamine

Dopaminergic

Dopaminergic neurons of the VTA (green). Virus-infected neurons that can be inhibited to assess their effects on social behavior through chemogenetic approaches are in red. The level of infected dopamine neuron is about 50% (yellow).   Highlight from the Bellone’s Read more…


The brain is fighting against autism

eye-tracking

Eye-tracking experience Each dot indicates the position of the gaze while viewing a video showing a child playing. Left : the blue dots are the areas targeted by a child with typical cerebral development. Right : the red dots are targeted by Read more…


Swiss Federal Council : Better integration of people with autism

Conseil Federal_2018

The NCCR-Synapsy played a key role in this initiative by the Swiss Federal Council, with two of its PIs –  Prof. Marie Schaer and Prof. Stephan Eliez – coordinating the research project which proved the efficiency of early intervention on Read more…


Interneuron plasticity initiates the rewiring of the auditory cortex

interneurons plasticity

 EPFL neuroscientists have found that the output synapses of certain interneurons in the cortex show long-term plasticity. This plasticity occurs during a critical period of brain development and might contribute to the experience-dependent rewiring of brain circuits. Interneurons inhibit the Read more…


Autism social interaction difficulties caused by poor synapse maturation

Dopamine

A significant debilitating factor for those afflicted with autism spectral disorders (ASD) is impairment of social communication. Now, a team of investigators from the Universities of Geneva (UNIGE) and Basel (UNIBAS), in Switzerland believe they have uncovered what happens in Read more…


Camilla Bellone interviewed by RTS-CQFD radio

Camilla Bellone

Let’s meet with Camilla Bellone, a specialist in social interactions. One hour to get to know this specialist in social interactions and talk about neurons, autism and schizophrenia. On the phone: Christian Lüscher, professor of fundamental neuroscience at UNIGE. Full Read more…


‘Social brain’ networks are altered at a young age in autism

autism attention span

Each dot represents the gaze position for an individual child watching the movie. The blue dots on the left represent the typically developing toddlers. The red dots represent toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The face wasn’t blurred during the Read more…


Is everything decided in childhood?

claudia bagni portrait

Meeting with Claudia Bagni, Head of the UNIL Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, whose inaugural lecture will take place during the Brain Awareness Week 2017 (program pdf). Without knowing why, it is often said that everything is decided in childhood. Claudia Read more…