How the brain integrate and store information and how this process is affected in pathological states remain poorly understood. This is mainly due to the fact that a multidisciplinary approach is required to tackle this question across its different levels of complexity. In our group we combine in vivo multi-site electrophysiological recording with behavioral testing in various animal models in order to find neuronal correlates of memory acquisition and retrieval and to determine how these processes are affected in neuropsychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and depression.

5 Selected Publications

Jackson J., Goutagny R., Williams S. (2011) Fast and slow gamma rhythms are intrinsically and independently generated in the subiculum. J Neurosci., 31 (34): 12104-17.

Huh CYL., Goutagny R., Williams S. (2010) Glutamatergic neurons of the mouse medial septum and diagonal band of Broca synaptically drive hippocampal pyramidal cells: relevance for hippocampal theta rhythm. J Neurosci., 30 (47): 15951-61.

Goutagny R., Jackson J., Williams S. (2009) Self-generated theta oscillations in the hippocampus. Nat. Neurosci., 12 (12) : 1491-3.

Goutagny R., Manseau F., Danik M., Jackson J., Williams S. (2008) In vitro activation of the medial septum - diagonal band complex generates atropine-sensitive and atropine-resistant hippocampal theta rhythm: an investigation using a complete septohippocampal preparation. Hippocampus, 18 (6) : 531-5.

Manseau F., Goutagny R., Danik M., Williams S. (2008) The hippocamposeptal pathway generates rhythmic firing of GABAergic neurons in the medial septum and diagonal bands: an investigation using a complete septohippocampal preparation in vitro. J Neurosci., 28(15) : 4096-107.

Awards, Fellowships and Honours 

2011            NARSAD young investigator award
2011            Postdoctoral fellowship (2 years) from the “Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale”, Paris, France
2011            Nair Award, Douglas Mental Health University Institute Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
2010            McGill Medstar award, McGill Faculty of Medicine, Montréal, QC, Canada.
2009            «Aide au retour» award from the French Society For Neuroscience, Bordeaux, France
2007            Conrad F Harrington postdoctoral fellowship (1 year) from the Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
2005            Doctoral fellowship (1 year) from the “Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale”, Paris, France
2005            Training fellowship from the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation, Pr. Amzica laboratory (Université Laval; Québec; Canada)
2003            Doctoral fellowship (3 years) from the « Emergence program », Région Rhône-Alpes, France

• Cortical oscillatory activity
• Hippocampo-cortical interactions during spatial memory processes
• Alteration of brain oscillatory activity in various model of neuropsychiatric disorders
• In vivo multi-site electrophysiological recording
• Behavioral testing