Dorothy Tse

Neurobiology of learning and memory, particularly in systems level mechanisms of memory formation.

Contact type
Person
First name
Dorothy
Surname
Tse
Title
Dr
Role
Senior Postdoctoral Fellow & Lab Manager
Organisation 1
I George Square
Organisation 2
Edinburgh
Organisation 3
EH8 9XD
Work phone
0131 650 4571
Email
Dorothy.Tse@ed.ac.uk

Personal profile

  • Senior Postdoctoral Fellow & lab manager, University of Edinburgh, 2017-present.
  • Postdoctoral fellow, University of Edinburgh, 2010-2014, 2015-2016.
  • PhD in Neuroscience, University of Edinburgh, 2006-2011.
  • Research Assistant, University of Edinburgh, 2005-2006.
  • MSc in Neuroscience, University of Edinburgh, 2004-2005.

Research

I am interested in the neurobiology of learning and memory, particularly in systems level mechanisms of memory formation, and have two main lines of research:

1. Throughout each day, memories are automatically formed and yet most of these are lost over time. Retention of everyday memory is enhanced when a novel event occurs that triggers the activation of dopamine receptors in hippocampus. We recently found that projections from noradrenergic neurons in the locus coerulus to the hippocampus can drive novelty induced memory through the apparent release of dopamine in hippocampus (Takeuchi et al., 2016). I am interested in the mechanisms underlying this unexpected neuromodulatory selectivity.

2. We learn new things better when we can relate these to prior knowledge (a schema). We previously found that new information can be assimilated into neocortical schemas very rapidly via systems consolidation (Tse et al., 2007, 2011). I am now further investigating possible mechanisms underlying schema formation and how information is assimilated into a schema.

I use an integrated approach combining behavioural analysis of memory tasks with lesions and pharmacological manipulations, and will soon be using optogenetics and calcium microendoscopic tools.

Publications

Wang SH, Tse D and Morris RGM (2012) Anterior cingulate cortex in schema assimilation and expression. Learn Mem. 19: 9315-318.

Tse D, Takeuchi T, Kakeyma M, Kajii Y, Okuno H, Tohyama C, Bito H and Morris RGM (2011) Schema-Dependent gene activation and Memory Encoding in Neocortex. Science, 333: 891-895.

Bethus I, Tse D and Morris RGM (2010) Dopamine and memory: modulation of the persistence of memory for novel hippocampal NMDA receptor-dependent paired associates. J Neurosci. 30, 1610-1618.

Tse D, Langston R F, Bethus I, Wood E R, Witter M P and Morris R G M (2008) Does assimilation into schemas involve systems or cellular consolidation? It's not just time. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 89:361-365.

Tse D, Langston R F, Kakeyama M, Bethus I, Spooner P A, Wood E R, Witter M P and Morris R G M (2007) Schemas and memory consolidation. Science, 316, 76-82.