Dr Riccardo Beltramo University positionAssistant Professor Dr Riccardo Beltramo is pleased to consider applications from prospective PhD students. DepartmentsDepartment of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience Home pagehttps://www.beltramolab.org/ (personal home page) Research ThemesInterestsWe aim to understand how the brain transforms sensory signals into the neural representations of the outside world that guide our behaviour. Our lab uses the mouse visual system as a model and studies the contribution of parallel visual pathways to behaviours that promote survival, so-called “adaptive behaviours”. We are particularly interested in innate and learned defensive responses, such as escaping upon detecting predators, and vision-based navigation. We focus on the neural circuits that allow us to navigate an ever-changing environment, creating internal “spatial maps” of the world. Adaptive behaviours are protective responses susceptible to dysregulation and can become maladaptive, leading to mental illnesses. Our lab studies the pathogenesis of stress-induced anxiety in the early stage of sensory processing. We aim to understand how pathological changes in early neural representations of “dangerous” and “safe” sensory stimuli influence the occurrence of anxiety disorders. Research Focus
EquipmentBehavioural analysis Calcium imaging Computational modelling Electrophysiological recording techniques Optogenetics Pharmacogenetics Whole cell patch clamp Collaborators
Associated News ItemsKey publicationsBeltramo R (2020), “A new primary visual cortex” Science 370(6512):46 Vecchia D, Beltramo R, Vallone F, Chéreau R, Forli A, Molano-Mazón M, Bawa T, Binini N, Moretti C, Holtmaat A, Panzeri S, Fellin T (2020), “Temporal sharpening of sensory responses by layer V in the mouse primary somatosensory cortex” Current Biology 4;30(9):1589-1599.e10 Beltramo R, Scanziani M (2019), “A Collicular Visual Cortex: Neocortical Space for an Ancient Midbrain Visual Structure” Science 363(6422):64-69 Pfeffer CK & Beltramo R (2017), “Correlating Anatomy and Function with Gene Expression in Individual Neurons by Combining in Vivo Labeling, Patch Clamp, and Single Cell RNA-seq” Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience 11:376 Wietek J, Beltramo R, Scanziani M, Hegemann P, Oertner TG, Wiegert JS (2015), “An improved chloride-conducting channelrhodopsin for light-induced inhibition of neuronal activity in vivo” Scientific Reports 10:7;5:14807 Beltramo R, D’Urso G, Dal Maschio M, Farisello P, Bovetti S, Clovis Y, Lassi G, Tucci V, De Pietri Tonelli D, Fellin T (2013), “Layer-specific excitatory circuits differentially control recurrent network dynamics in the neocortex” Nature Neuroscience 16(2):227-34 Dal Maschio M, Beltramo R, De Stasi A, Fellin T (2012), “Two-photon calcium imaging in the intact brain” Advances in Exp. Med. Biol. 740:83-102 Dal Maschio M, Difato F, Beltramo R, De Stasi A, Blau A, Benfenati F, Fellin T (2012), “Optical investigation of brain networks using structured illumination” Cellular imaging techniques for neuroscience and beyond 5:101-120 Difato F, Dal Maschio M, Beltramo R, Blau A, Benfenati F, Fellin T (2012), “Spatial light modulators for complex spatio-temporal illumination of neuronal networks” Neuromethods 67:61-81 Dal Maschio M, Difato F, Beltramo R, Blau A, Benfenati F, Fellin T (2010), “Simultaneous two-photon imaging and photo-stimulation with structured light illumination” Optics Express 18:18720-18731 Publications2014Barral S, Beltramo R, Salio C, Aimar P, Lossi L, Merighi A (2014), “Phosphorylation of histone H2AX in the mouse brain from development to senescence” International Journal of Molecular Sciences 15(1): 1554–1573 2010Halassa MM, Dal Maschio M, Beltramo R, Haydon PG, Benfenati F, Fellin T (2010), “Integrated Brain Circuits: neuron-astrocyte interaction in sleep-related rhythmogenesis” Scientific World Journal 10:1634-1645 |