Hinges Lab Shorts - video

Student - Carolina Moretti lerardi

Supervisor - Professor Robert Hindges

The research in the Hindges Lab ranges from studying brain circuit establishment to psychiatric disorders, being a dynamic and innovative environment. The main tool for investigation into these topics is zebrafish models. In my project, I aimed to capture the lab as a whole by communicating some of the techniques used. Firstly, I focused on a behavioural technique: the social behavioural assay, which is used to test social behaviours associated with psychiatric diseases. I then focused on an innovative and only recently established neurodevelopmental technique in the Hindges lab: the closed-loop system, It is used to evaluate how sensory stimuli induce changes in brain plasticity. I then looked at a sensory experiment using Pre-pulse inhibition (PPI). Because of the established behaviour in wild type fish, this is useful to compare with drug models or genetically mutated fish. Finally, I expanded to cognitive experiments. Similar to PPI, the Free movement pattern Y-Maze, done in zebrafish is used as a baseline comparison for fish models of psychiatric disorders. In conclusion, the aim of the project is to encompass the process of conducting science and promote insight into the methods used to achieve results.