University of Goettingen

4 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Neuroscience

Optogenetic Stimulation of the Auditory Nerve

Victor H. Hernandez^1,2,5, Anna Gehrt^1,3, Zhizi Jing³, Gerhard Hoch¹, Marcus Jeschke¹, Nicola Strenzke³, Tobias Moser^1,2,4

¹InnerEarLab, Department of Otolaryngology, University Medical Center Goettingen, ²Bernstein Focus for Neurotechnology, University of Goettingen, ³Auditory Systems Physiology Group, Department of Otolaryngology, University Medical Center Goettingen, ⁴Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, University of Goettingen, ⁵Department of Chemical, Electronic, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Guanajuato

Cochlear implants (CIs) enable hearing by direct electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve. However, poor frequency and intensity resolution limits the quality of hearing with CIs. Here we describe optogenetic stimulation of the auditory nerve in mice as an alternative strategy for auditory research and developing future CIs.

Behavior

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior

Margarete Boos¹, Johannes Pritz², Michael Belz³

¹Institute for Psychology, University of Goettingen, ²Courant Research Centre Evolution of Social Behavior, University of Goettingen, ³Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Goettingen

Here, we present the computer-based, multi-agent game HoneyComb, which enables experimental investigations of collective human movement behavior via black-dot-avatars on a virtual 2D hexagonal playfield. Different experimental conditions, like variable incentives on goal fields or vision radius, can be set, and their effects on human movement behavior can be investigated.

Bioengineering

Fibroblast Derived Human Engineered Connective Tissue for Screening Applications

Gabriela L. Santos^1,2, Tim Meyer^1,2, Malte Tiburcy^1,2, Alisa DeGrave^1,2, Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann^1,2,3,4,5, Susanne Lutz^1,2

¹Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Goettingen, ²DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research) partner site, Goettingen, ³Cluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells” (MBExC), University of Goettingen, ⁴Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), ⁵Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP)

Presented here is a protocol to generate engineered connective tissues for a parallel culture of 48 tissues in a multi-well plate with double poles, suitable for mechanistic studies, disease modeling, and screening applications. The protocol is compatible with fibroblasts from different organs and species and is exemplified here with human primary cardiac fibroblasts.

Behavior

The Collective Trust Game: An Online Group Adaptation of the Trust Game Based on the HoneyComb Paradigm

Marie Ritter¹, Charlotte F. Kroll^*1, Henriette Voigt^*1, Johannes Pritz¹, Margarete Boos¹

¹University of Goettingen

The Collective Trust Game is a computer-based, multi-agent trust game based on the HoneyComb paradigm, which enables researchers to assess the emergence of collective trust and related constructs, such as fairness, reciprocity, or forward-signaling. The game allows detailed observations of group processes through movement behavior in the game.