Principal Investigator Sylvain Williams, PhD I completed my PhD at the University of Montreal in 1994 under the supervision of Jean-Claude Lacaille. At that time, the aim of my project was in understanding the interactions of GABAergic interneurons and principal neurons in hippocampus using electrophysiology. This is where I got very interested in understanding how neural circuits would give rise to theta rhythm, a type of oscillation critical for learning and memory. I then obtained a postdoctoral position in Geneva Switzerland to investigate the circuits located in the medial septum that were responsible for generating hippocampal theta rhythm generation. Since 1999, my lab has focused initially at the cellular and local circuit level to reveal the mechanisms underlying memory-dependent oscillations but more recently we have turned our attention to in vivo experimentation to understand how population of neurons give rise to memory. I am full professor at the department of Psychiatry at McGill University and associate member of the department of neurology and neurosurgery. I have been very active as a reviewer for provincial, national and international review committees. Research Associates Frederic Manseau, PhD I joined the laboratory of Dr S. Williams as a postdoctoral fellow. During this time, I developed a novel type of in vitro preparation including the “complete” hippocampus, either isolated or still connected with the septum area. I used this preparation, preserving much of the in vivo organization of neuronal networks, in combination with multielectrode electrophysiological recording of local field potentials (LFPs), single cell activity from identified neurons and local pharmacology, as an alternative and useful tool for studying self-generated activity, such as the “theta” oscillations (frequency band: 4-12 Hz) involved in rhythmic encoding of hippocampal information and memory formation. During my second postdoc, I studied the activity and synaptic interactions of excitatory and inhibitory neurons in vitro using advanced electrophysiology (dual patch-clamp recording) and pharmacological approaches. More precisely, I examined the role of fast-spiking (FS) interneurons, which are self-connected by functional GABAergic autapses, in coordinating synchrony in neocortical circuits. I am now working with Dr Williams as an associate researcher, where I carry on research in collaboration with other members of the lab concerning neuronal networks involved in rhythmic oscillations of the hippocampus and their role in learning and memory. Jean-Bastien Bott, PhD I joined Dr. Sylvain Williams’s laboratory as a postodctoral fellow after a PhD at the university of Strasbourg (France). I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology as well as my master in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Strasbourg (France). My goal is to understand how brains networks generate, store and use memories to fit environmental challenges. My ongoing projects focus on how glutamatergic and cholinergic neurons from the medial septum contribute to hippocampal cell assemblies formation, stabilization and adaptations in freely behaving mice during various learning using combination of calcium imaging, optogenetic manipulations and electrophysiology. Also, I collaborate to the development of a new imaging device for simultaneous multi-regional calcium imaging in freely-behaving mice to explore brain hemispheric cooperation during memory processes. Lorène Penazzi, PhD I joined Dr. Sylvain Williams’s laboratory as a postodctoral fellow in 2016 after completing a BSc in psychology from Nancy II University (France), a MSc in Psychology and Cognitive Neurosciences from Strasbourg University (France) and a PhD thesis in Molecular Biology from the University of Osnabrück (Germany). My research goal is to determine the key cellular players responsible for the progressive transition from healthy aging to dementia. In this direction, my aim is to determine the exact functions of OLM interneurons in the regulation of dorsal hippocampal principal cell assembly dynamics during learning and memory. Among the techniques I use, I am performing in vivo calcium imaging using miniscopes combined with optogenetic and chemogenetic inhibition of OLM interneurons activity. I also collaborated on additional projects such as the development of a new imaging device for simultaneous multi-brain region calcium imaging in freely-behaving mice. Postdoctoral Fellows Coralie-anne Mosser, PhD I’m broadly interested in understanding the neural basis for perception, cognition, and behavior. I earned my Masters degree in Neuroscience from Paris-Saclay University and I completed my PhD with Etienne Audinat in the Charpak Lab at Paris Descartes University, investigating the involvement of microglial cells in the maturation and wiring of neocortical networks, with combination of ex vivo electrophysiology, optogenetics, molecular biology and immunohistochemistry approaches. I joined the Williams Lab as a postdoctoral fellow in 2019 to participate to the development of the McGill-Mouse-Marmoset (M3) platform. I’m excited to be part of this new platform, where Research is being driven towards its cutting edge of scaling functional dynamics within neural circuits and network assemblies. The goal of this high-throughput platform is to substantially accelerate the acquisition of neuronal activity throughout different brain regions during complex, automated, and standardized behavioral tasks using the Bussey/Saksida touchscreen chambers. We use UCLA miniscopes (miniscope.org) to perform calcium imaging in 12 touchscreens recording chambers designed for mice; and in the future we’re aiming at establishing the same approach for recordings in Marmosets. My current project aims at investigating the memory-linked code for time and reward in CA1 and CA3 areas of the hippocampus. James “Eric” Carmichael, PhD My work in the Williams lab focuses on the role of the subiculum in learning and memory. I use a combination of in vivo electrophysiology and calcium imaging to track the dynamics of subiculum networks during learning and subsequent sleep and how these networks relate to ongoing oscillations in the local field potential. Prior to joining the Williams lab in 2019, I completed my PhD with Matthijs van der Meer (Dartmouth) where I studied the origin(s) of oscillations in neural activity within the ventral striatum and how these oscillations relate to spiking patterns and behaviour. I completed my BSc at the University of Lethbridge and my MSc in the Moser lab (NTNU) where I used in vivo electrophysiology to investigate the neural correlates of speed in the rat hippocampal formation. Ph.D. Students Jisu Choi, M.Sc. I obtained a bachelor’s degree in physics from Chosun University and a master’s degree in medical system engineering from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology in Korea. I am currently investigating the role of neuronal assemblies in memory during wake and sleep. I use the miniature microscope for calcium imaging in awake and sleep in order to trace dynamic change of neural activities associated with the cognitive map. My ultimate goal is to understand the mechanism of memory in normal and in disease state, and, further, to devote my life to addressing the challenges of incurable diseases in the field of neuropsychiatry. Ingrid Inema, M.Sc. After completing my masters at NYU with György Buzsáki, I joined the Williams lab for my doctoral studies with the IntegratedProgram in Neuroscience at McGill University in the fall of 2015.I am interested in the relationships between different brain regions working in concert to achieve complex cognitive feats such as memory. In my current project, I am using electrophysiology and calcium imaging to understand the contribution of the subiculum in storing and retrieving information in hippocampus-dependent memories. Master Students Bryan Alexis Contreras Mercado, HBSc I joined the William’s lab as a master’s student. My work here focuses on the role of hippocampal interneurons, especially OLM interneurons, in memory formation during sleep. To accomplish my goal, I use a wide set of techniques, from in-vivo calcium imaging to electrophysiology and behavioral analysis. Previously to joining the lab, I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Translational Medicine at the University of Ottawa. During my undergrad I studied the connectomics of the Locus Coeruleus during motor learning and autism spectrum disorder with Dr. Simon Chen. I came to Canada 4 years ago, I am originally from a small town in Mexico, called Ixtapaluca. Salodin Al-Achkar, BSc I joined the Willians laboratory as an undergraduate research assistant in 2021 while I was completing my Bachelors of Science in physiology at McGill University. In the winter of 2022, I began my Masters of Science degree under the supervision of Dr. Sylvain Wiliams in McGill’s Integrated Program of Neuroscience. I am interested in the role of hippocampal interneurons in various features of learning and memory. Using chemogenetic and optogenetic inhibition, I am able to study the specific effects of OLM interneurons and VIP-expressing interneurons in hippocampus-dependent spatial navigation in adult mice.
