Topic: iDISCO+

Navigation based on the formation, storage, and retrieval of spatial information is crucial for the survival of many species. We use a modification of a fully automated T-maze task for mice requiring flexible processing of visual information about the external environment. In our experimental design mice are presented with extra maze visual cues of different levels of complexity - general contexts and salient landmarks. They are conditioned to navigate based on the visual cues, acting against the spontaneous tendency to alternate. The animals are presented with pseudo-random sequences of turns

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a growing number of 0.5 billion people currently suffer from disabling hearing loss (HL). While causes of HL are diverse, it mainly originates in dysfunctions of the inner ear. Recent improvements in light sheet fluorescence microscopy allow nanometric examination of the whole intact cochlea in immunohistochemistry. These findings may help to identify and quantify disease mechanisms on a new scale and aid in the development of new treatment options for patients with severe HL. In this study, we assess the nano-architecture of the cochlea using