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Biography
·
Research
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Current Projects
·
PhD Students
·
PhD Opportunities
·
Selected
Publications
·
Teaching
·
Contact
Information
Biography
Education
2002: PhD, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
(ETH) Zurich
1999: Diploma in Biochemistry (subsidiary subjects: Biopsychology and
Philosophy), Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
Positions
Since Oct 2008: Lecturer, School of Psychology, University
of Nottingham,UK
2005-2008: Caledonian Research Foundation Fellow,
Centre for Cognitive and Neural Systems, University of Edinburgh,UK
2003-2005: Research fellow, Division of
Neuroscience, University
of Edinburgh, UK
1999-2003: Research associate/ Scientist,
Behavioural Neurobiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich
1998-1999: Studentische Hilfskraft (undergraduate
assistant), Biopsychology Group, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
Research
My
interests are in the area of integrative and behavioural neuroscience: How do
neuronal mechanisms generate adaptive behaviour? How does dysfunction of
these mechanisms contribute to neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases?
From rapid memory
encoding to adaptive behaviour – functional differentiation and integration
in the hippocampus
Focusing
on the hippocampus, my research is concerned with the brain mechanisms
mediating memory and other behavioural functions, such as emotional,
motivational, and sensorimotor functions, and, especially, the integration of
these diverse functions. Combining behavioural testing with the manipulation
and analysis of brain function in rats, I study hippocampal functions, the
underlying mechanisms and connectivity, and the consequences of hippocampal
dysfunction that characterises many neuropsychiatric populations.
Functional-anatomical model of the
hippocampus: implications for behaviour in health and disease
My research is led
by the idea (see Bast T, 2007, Rev Neurosci;
Bast, 2011, Curr Opin Neurobiol)
that the hippocampus integrates (i) anatomical and physiological substrates
of certain types of rapid information encoding (including functional
connectivity to entorhinal cortex) with (ii) direct links (via prefrontal
cortex and subcortical sites) to behavioural control functions, such as
emotional, motivational, executive, and sensorimotor processes (see
figure). Thereby, in humans and other mammals, normal
hippocampal function may enable rapid place and episodic(-like) learning
(i.e., encoding of events and their spatio-temporal context), and the
translation of such learning into behaviour. Examples of such behaviour
include our returning to where we parked our car or placed our key this
morning, or a rat’s returning to where it found food or safe refuge on a
previous occasion. On the other hand, permanent hippocampal damage may result
in striking and specific memory deficits, as reported in the famous case
studies of H.M. and other patients; furthermore, hippocampal dysfunction, as
found in schizophrenia, mood, and anxiety disorders, may, apart from memory
deficits, also contribute to other functional impairments, including aberrant
emotional, motivational, sensorimotor and executive functions.
Research methods
To study brain, especially hippocampal, substrates
of complex behaviour, I have been combining sophisticated behavioural testing
with brain manipulation and analysis in rats. Main approaches include:
· Well-established and
innovative behavioural tests to examine (i) learning and memory (including animal
models relevant to declarative and episodic memory) and (ii) emotional and
sensorimotor processes (animal models relevant to schizophrenia and anxiety
disorders). Specific paradigms include: event-arena procedures
(food-reinforced place-memory tests in a novel dry-land apparatus), watermaze
procedures, fear conditioning, prepulse-inhibition and startle testing,
open-field testing.
· Selective
neuropharmacological (intracerebral microinfusions) and brain-lesion (cytotoxic
lesions, fibre cuts) techniques to manipulate (i) specific components of the
hippocampal circuitry and their interaction and (ii) cortical and subcortical
structures connected to the hippocampus.
· In vivo electrophysiology, in
vivo microdialysis, anatomical techniques, and, most recently, in vivo
MRI to characterise the pathways and mechanisms underlying the behavioural
significance of the different components of the hippocampal circuitry.
Current Projects
Functional significance of hippocampal overactivity in
schizophrenia: integrative in vivo
studies in a rat model
Overactivity of the
hippocampus has emerged as a key feature of the pathophysiology of
schizophrenia (see here). To examine if and how hippocampal overactivity may contribute to disruptions in
cognition and behaviour, we will induce such hippocampal overactivity in a
rat model and characterise the resulting neural-network disruptions and
behavioural/cognitive impairments. The research is guided by hypotheses based
on the functional-anatomical model of the hippocampus described above (see Bast, 2011, Curr
Opin Neurobiol).
Funding: School of
Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Nottingham Research
Strategy Fund, Royal Society Research Grant
Poster presentations: FENS forum 2012 (14-17
July), see here
for abstract; FENS forum
2010 (3-7 July, Amsterdam), see here
for abstract.
PhD Students
Stephanie McGarrity, 1+3
MSc/PhD student, start: September 2010, funding: School of Psychology
Postgraduate Studentship. Topic: Neuro-behavioural
effects of hippocampal disinhibition.
PhD Opportunities
The School of Psychology awards ca. 8 PhD
studentships (ca. £13,000 living allowance p.a. plus Home/EU student
fees) each academic year. If you are interested in the research outlined above and would like to work toward a PhD in this
area, please contact me well in advance of the mid-February deadline for
School Studentship applications. Suitable candidates would typically have
some relevant research experience (e.g., from undergraduate or MSc projects).
Selected
Publications
Pezze M, Bast T
(2012) Dopaminergic modulation of hippocampus-dependent learning: Blockade of
hippocampal D1-class receptors during learning impairs 1-trial place memory
at a 30-min retention delay. Neuropharmacology 63: 710-718
(PDF)
Bast
T (2011) The hippocampal learning-behavior translation and the functional
significance of hippocampal dysfunction in schizophrenia. Curr Opin Neurobiol
21: 492-501
(PDF)
Jackson
SJ, Hussey R, Jansen MA, Merrifield GD, Marshall I, MacLullich A, Yau JLW,
Bast T (2011) Manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) of rat
brain after systemic administration of MnCl2: hippocampal signal
enhancement without disruption of hippocampus-dependent behavior. Behav Brain
Res 216:233-300 (PDF)
Bast
T, Wilson IA, Witter MP, Morris RGM (2009) From rapid place learning to
behavioral performance – a key role for the intermediate hippocampus. PLoS
Biol 7(4): e1000089.
(PDF small, PDF large); see here
for news release.
Bast
T (2007) Toward an integrative perspective on hippocampal function - from the
rapid encoding of experience to adaptive behavior. Rev Neurosci 18: 253-281 (PDF)
Bast
T, Da Silva BM, Morris RGM (2005) Distinct contributions of hippocampal NMDA
and AMPA receptors to encoding and retrieval of one-trial place memory. J
Neurosci 25: 5845-5856 (PDF)
Peleg-Raibstein
D, Pezze MA, Ferger B, Zhang W-N, Murphy CA, Feldon J, Bast T (2005)
Activation of dopaminergic neurotransmission in the medial prefrontal cortex
by NMDA stimulation of the ventral hippocampus in rats. Neuroscience 132:
219-232 (PDF)
Bast T, Feldon J
(2003) Hippocampal modulation of sensorimotor processes. Prog Neurobiol 70:
319-345 (PDF)
Bast T, Zhang W-N,
Feldon J (2003) Dorsal hippocampus and classical fear conditioning to tone
and context in rats: the effects of local NMDA-receptor blockade and
stimulation. Hippocampus 13: 657-675 (PDF)
Pezze MA, Bast T,
Feldon J (2003) Significance of dopamine transmission in the rat medial
prefrontal cortex for conditioned fear. Cereb Cortex 13: 371-380 (PDF)
Click here
for a full list of publications (including conference abstracts).
Click here
for GoogleScholar profile.
Teaching
Year 1
C81ADD:
Psychology of Addiction. Handouts for my lecture can be found here.
C81BIO:
Introduction
to Biological Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience. Handouts for my
lectures can be found here.
1st
Year Tutorials: Information for 2012/13 can be found here.
Year 2
C82NAB:
Neuroscience and
Behaviour.
Handouts for my lectures can be found here.
C82MST:
Statistical
Methods 2. Handouts and material for my lectures can be found here.
C82MPR:
Practical
and Statistical Methods. Handouts for the lecture in week 1 can be found here.
2nd
Year Tutorials: Information for 2012/13 can be found here.
Year 3
C83MLP:
Mechanisms
of Learning and Psychopathology. Handouts for my lectures can be found here.
C83MAB:
Mind
and Brain. Handouts for my lectures can be found here.
C83MPR: Research
Project. Description of the project I offer can be found here.
MSc
Cognitive Neuroscience & Neuroimaging (C892)
Material for my lecture can be found here.
BAP Preclinical
Certificate Course
Module
8: Combining
Neurobiology and Behaviour.
Contact
Information
Tobias Bast, Room B26
School of Psychology
University of Nottingham
University
Park
Nottingham
NG7 2RD
UK
Tel:
+44 115 84-67438
Email:
tobias.bast@nottingham.ac.uk
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