The focus of my research group's work is on developing a neurobiological account of the functions of the hippocampal formation in memory. No brain structure works in isolation and the hippocampus is no exception, with much of our present focus being on the impact of subcortical neuromodulatory inputs on memory encoding and consolidation, and on interactions between the hippocampus and neocortex in systems consolidation and the acquisition of knowledge.

Over the years, the main developments and discoveries of the lab include the ‘watermaze’, the role of NMDA receptors in spatial learning, and the co-development (with Julie Frey) of the synaptic tagging and capture hypothesis of long-term potentiation.  Our most recent work is on the neurobiology of mental schemas.

The group also has interests in applied issues – translational neuroscience – and is engaged in adapting some of our novel behavioural tasks for work on cognitive function in animal models of neurodegeneration such as Alzheimer’s Disease.

Science paper 2011- Tse et al Schema-Dependent Gene Activation and Memory Encoding in Neocortex(Abstract, reprint)

Science paper 2011 - Morris & Takeuchi: links below give access to the paper (click on one of the available options): Summary; Reprint; Full text