Doktorander/Utbildningsplatser

Doktorander/Utbildningsplatser
med placering vid Sahlgrenska akademin

Sista ansökningsdag: 2010-04-20

Sahlgrenska akademin utlyser doktorandplatser med placering vid institutionen för biomedicin, institutionen för kliniska vetenskaper, institutionen för medicin och institutionen för neurovetenskap och fysiologi.

Doktorandplatserna avser två års utbildningsbidrag och två års doktorandanställning, alternativt fyra års doktorandanställning, och beräknas leda fram till doktorsexamen.

För mer information och ansökningsblankett se:
http://www.sahlgrenska.gu.se/doktorandportalen/Doktor_Fran_start_till_mal/doktorandplatser


Noisy sensory stimulation as a treatment modality in animal models of Parkinson's disease and in Parkinson's disease

Application deadline: 2010-04-20

Description of the research project
Sensory noise has recently been suggested to improve cognitive, autonomic and motor functions of the CNS in conditions with deficient dopamine transmission (Yamamoto et al., 2005; Söderlund et al., 2007).The objectives of this project is to characterize the behavioural and neurochemical effects of stochastic sensory stimulation in a rodent model with deficient dopaminergic transmission, the 6-OHDA rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD).Further to that, the effects of stochastic sensory stimulation on motor and cognitive functions will be investigated in patients with Parkinson's disease.The main hypothesis is that in hypodopaminergic conditions, like Parkinson's disease, it is possible to overcome some of the behavioural dysfunction by increasing the input of sensory noise to levels that would be unfavorable for the performance of normal subjects.
The PhD student will be trained in a translational environment, in close collaboration with psychologists, pharmacologists, neurologists and cognitive neuroscientists.The project will provide experience and training in rodent models of neurodegenerative disease, animal neuro-behavioural methods and neurochemistry, as well as in the planning and execution of clinical trials.
References
Söderlund GBW, Sikström S & Smart A.(2007).Listen to the noise: Noise is beneficial for cognitive performance in ADHD.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 48, 840-847.
Yamamoto Y, Struzik ZR, Soma R, Ohashi K & Kwak S.(2005).Noisy vestibular stimulation improves autonomic and motor responsiveness in central neurodegenerative disorders.Ann Neurol 58, 175-181.