CV Science

Aline Marighetto PhD Neurosciences

Course and current status

Current position

Senior scientist (CR1) at CNRS

Head of team "Pathophysiology of Declarative Memory",  Neurocentre Magendie (Inserm U862), Bordeaux, France

Education and training

1991: PhD in Neurosciences at University Bordeaux 1

1991-1992: Post-doctoral fellow, Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University, UK

1992-1994: Post-doctoral fellow, Servier Institute, Croissy/Seine, France

1995: CR1 (Senior scientist permanent position) at CNRS

Scientific summary

Our research activity is aimed at identifying the psychobiological bases of memory degradation occurring in aging and in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To achieve our goal, we first needed to develop satisfactory animal models, as the memory form which preferentially degrades in aging and PTSD is Declarative Memory (DM), i.e. a typically human form of memory. In aging DM declines, whilst in PTSD there is a paradoxical memory profile in which DM degradation is coupled with enhanced non declarative expression of the core traumatic event. Therefore, we developed two main lines of research: one on DM decline in aging and the other on DM alterations in stress-related memories. Each research line is based on a specific behavioral model in mice.

Our research activity has therefore two main objectives: 1) identifying the critical molecular and cellular mechanisms of the aging-related degradation in temporal binding in DM encoding, and studying the potential influence of estrogens on these mechanisms. 2) Pursuing a translational approach to assess the predictive value of our mouse model in understanding DM degradation in senescence.

By continuing our integrative approach, linking intracellular markers of activity and plasticity to memory system function, we expect to help developing new therapeutics and prevention strategies of memory alterations in aging and post-traumatic stress (PTSD).