Course: Electrophysiological techniques to measure and interpret human neuron functions

Electrophysiology provides a unique approach to investigating cell and tissue functionality. This is important for high quality science not only in basic cell biology and disease investigation, but also in the continuously growing fields of stem cells, tissue engineering and therapy development. With the rapid expansion of the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technologies, there has been an increasing need for efficient functional characterization of disease specific cell lines as well as organ- and body-on-a-chip models.

Recent developments in electrophysiology include the creation of multielectrode array tools and their refinement to high-resolution possibilities, enabling precise mapping of electrical activity across tissues and organoids. Moreover, the development of tools, such as genetically encoded voltage indicators has revolutionized our ability to manipulate and visualize electrical signaling in living systems with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. Finally, advances in machine learning and computational modeling complement experimental data enhance our understanding of complex electrophysiological processes.

This dedicated, short course on electrophysiology will introduce the participants with basic theoretical knowledge on electrophysiology and introduce the modern techniques in the field. The participants will gain knowledge on how some of the foundational biology questions can be addressed using the cutting-edge technologies. We will also introduce the electrophysiology core facilities at the University of Eastern Finland, University of Tampere and University of Helsinki and the services and support they offer for the researchers. By bringing together the neuroscientists at the campuses and the experts in the field of electrophysiology, we aim to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and boost the neuroscience research in Finland in general.

Call for abstracts is open until 16 April, and registration until 2 May. For further information about course content, please contact Tarja Malm, email tarja.malm@uef.fi, in practical matters Jukka Jolkkonen, email jukka.jolkkonen@uef.fi.

Programme

12 May

8:30– Registration and coffee  

Opening of the course 
Tarja Malm, University of Eastern Finland

9:00–10:00 Fundamentals in neuronal electrophysiology: what are we measuring and why (Chair: Anssi Pelkonen)

Introduction to electrophysiology  
Nataliia Novosolova, University of Eastern Finland  

What can you measure using patch clamp? Experience in human brains 
Polina Abushik, University of Eastern Finland  

10:00–10:30 Coffee break

10:30–12:00 What are we measuring using multielectrode arrays? (Chair: Polina Abushik)

Measuring neuronal network properties using multielectrode array technology – focus on human brain
Anssi Pelkonen, University of Eastern Finland  

Measuring human brain circuit properties using high-density MEAs 
Soraya Meftah, University of Edinburgh  

Sponsor talk, Martin Melovic, Axion BioSystems

12:00–13:00 Lunch break

13:00–14:30 Faster is better – imaging voltage (Chair: Mireia Gomez Budia)

Voltage imaging of neuronal functions 
Marco Canepari, University of Grenoble, France

Sponsor talk, Silvia Oldani, MaxWell Biosystems

Coffee 14:00-14:30

15:00-17:30 Demo (AIVirtanen institute)

Demo I: Patch clamp – 2D cultures
Demo II: Patch clamp – organoids
Demo III: MaxWell MEA
Demo IV: Axion MEA

19:00–21:00 Evening dinner  

13 May

9:00–10:30 Mechanisms underlying circuit functions (Chair: Nataliia Novosolova)

Cell type and sex dependent mechanisms underlying amygdala circuit dysfunction following chronic stress 
Sari Lauri, University of Helsinki  

Selected student presentations x 3  

10:30–11:00 Coffee break

11:00–12:30 Impact of disease on circuit functions (Chair: Anastasia Shakirzyanova)

Insights to Novel Microphysiological Disease Models with Integrated MEA technology and Analysis
Emre Kapucu, University of Tampere  

Selected student presentations x 3  

12:30–13:30 Lunch break

13:30-16:00 Cortical cells and synapses: new tools for the screening of the function (Chair: Tarja Malm)

The Finnish Electrophysiology Platform
Susanna Narkilahti, University of Tampere

Selected student presentations x 3

Functional, structural, and protein analyses of adult human cortical cells & synapses (online)
Mark Harnett, McGovern Institute for Brain Research & Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cambridge, USA
 

Closing the course
Tarja Malm, University of Eastern Finland