PhD defence N.L. (Nina) de Oude

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:

This thesis investigates how the brain learns associations through experience, using eyeblink conditioning as an experimental model. In this type of learning, a neutral stimulus becomes linked to a meaningful event, resulting in a learned eyeblink response. This paradigm allows detailed investigation of the brain mechanisms underlying learning and memory.
Using several mouse models, this research examines how associative motor learning depends on interactions between neural circuits and genetic factors. The cerebellum plays a central role in this process, particularly in the timing and execution of learned movements. Studies in a genetic mouse model with impaired calcium channel function demonstrate that intact calcium signalling is essential for normal cerebellar learning.
The findings also show that motor learning is not restricted to the cerebellum alone. Brain regions involved in emotional and motivational processing, such as the amygdala, can modulate learning. Activation of specific neuron populations in the amygdala enhances both the speed and strength of learned eyeblink responses. In addition, genetic mutations associated with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 are shown to alter neural signalling and learning outcomes, resulting in enhanced eyeblink conditioning.
By integrating these results, this thesis demonstrates that associative motor learning emerges from coordinated activity across multiple brain systems and genetic pathways. It also highlights the importance of standardized experimental approaches to improve reproducibility and comparability across studies. Together, these insights provide a more comprehensive understanding of how learning is organized in the brain and how it may be altered in neurological disorders.