Casella Prize - Lectio magistralis di Arianna Maffei

Brain function is shaped by interactions between stimuli from the external world and the internal state of a subject. For example, the smell of food can elicit different responses if we are hungry or have just finished eating a large meal. In addition, our response to specific stimuli depends on our prior experience with them or what we have learned about them. The Maffei's research over the years has focused on investigating how experience and learning shape the connectivity and efficacy of communication between neurons in a variety of circuits including cerebellum, visual cortex and, more recently, the gustatory cortex. The goal of this work is to identify core mechanisms regulating neuronal and circuit excitability and responses to sensory experience.