Writing and reading of kinship memories: Neuromodulation and synaptic diversity in kinship memory formation

In the third funding period we propose to study how enkephalinergic inputs might contribute to kinship memory formation and how interactions with downstream structures such as the periaqueductal gray (PAG) might read out kinship memories. We will specifically focus on the role of neuromodulation in shaping kinship memory and its connection to behavioral outputs. Neuromodulatory signals such as enkephalin, adenosine, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are known to influence synaptic plasticity and social behaviors, providing key candidates for kinship memory mechanisms. Enkephalin signaling, for instance, is associated with reward and social bonding, while adenosine and BDNF modulate synaptic strength and network function.

Archive – A03 (SFB1315/1)

Archive – A03 (SFB1315/2)