For Netherlanders, the triple "X" is used to denote the city of Amsterdam, and symbolizes the three dangers that have afflicted the city at some point or other during its history: flood, fire, and plague. Given this information, one might be tempted to ask: Why would a college student go to Amsterdam for three months? Well, I will attempt to answer that.

Amsterdam is a city known for its canals, its beautiful scenery, and of course, its nightlife. From the moment I stepped off the plane, I quickly became immersed in Dutch culture, and immediately knew that this experience would mark a milestone in my life.

My primary objective in Amsterdam was to conduct neuroscience research with the guidance of Professor Dr. Cyriel Pennartz in the Department of Animal Physiology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Amsterdam. Specifically, I assisted a brilliant post-doc, Dr. Jadin Jackson, with a project that he had just begun. Before I explain the aim of the project, some background information is needed
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In the brain, there are numerous memory mechanisms that are simultaneously working together. It is known that the hippocampus is a brain region important for memory of places and events. Initially, memory is stored in the hippocampus, but as time continues, it appears that this information is transferred to other brain regions. However, the details of how the information is redistributed are not well known. One potential mechanism of this transfer is reactivation, the replay of neural activity during rest that was initially observed on a task. It has been observed that neurons in the hippocampus activated during sharp wave ripple events [short, fast waves of electrical activity observable in electroencephalograms (EEG)] fire in patterns that are characteristic of those seen during previous behavior. This suggests a possible role in learning and memory consolidation during sleep. In other words, it is believed that reactivation may be a means of solidifying memories for long-term storage. Since the hippocampus is thought to have connections with many regions of the brain, an important question to ask is whether the hippocampus coordinates reactivation with other brain structures, which led me to Dr. Jackson's plans. The proposed experiment investigated the effects of hippocampal reactivation during sharp wave ripples on reactivation and memory consolidation in the ventral striatum (the brain region of interest, which is involved with associating actions with reward-related stimuli). This experiment was performed on rats since rats are often the animal subjects of choice in most behavioral electrophysiological studies investigating complex navigational behavior.

While three months in some research areas may be sufficient time to start and complete a project, this is barely enough time in neuroscience research to even set up a pilot experiment. For this reason, Dr. Jackson and I laid the groundwork for the study, conducting a pilot experiment and setting up the electrical circuitry that would enable us to record simultaneously from the hippocampus and ventral striatum of a rat. In my short time there, I also was able to enhance my programming skills by learning the ins and outs of Matlab, a programming language used in the neuroscience field to analyze data. I hope to be able to apply my newly acquired skills in Dr. Carol Barnes's lab at UA.

Aside from a wonderful research community, Amsterdam has many other aspects that make it a fascinating city. The countless museums in Amsterdam create a classy, enjoyable environment for many tourists, including the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum. Without a doubt, a major tourist attraction is the Red Light District (named de Wallen-"of the harbor shore"). The oldest part of the city, there are canals that flow through that section that served as a line of defense against incursions. Nevertheless, those areas draw huge masses of people. One of my most memorable moments in Amsterdam was going on a sailing trip with the lab. We navigated the deep blue waters of the Ijsselmeer on a huge sailing boat. Interestingly, this body of water was originally part of the North Sea, but a large dike was created to prevent flooding on the northern shores, resulting in a freshwater lake now known as the Ijsselmeer.

There are countless points that have not been mentioned in this article, partially because everyone should go and experience Amsterdam himself or herself. My trip to Amsterdam has definitely been a life-changing experience. I have learned so much about myself and in addition to the international research process. These three months have made an enormous impact on my future plans, motivating me to become a researcher in the neuroscience field. Thus, the recollections of these experiences are only a few reasons why a college student should consider spending several months in Amsterdam.

This trip would not have been possible without funding from the BRAVO! program (NIH Grant MD001427 and the College of Science Galileo Circle). I would like to thank both Drs. Cyriel Pennartz and Jadin Jackson for allowing me to collaborate with them, as well as Dr. Carol Barnes and the director of the BRAVO! Program, Carol Bender, for their helpful advice and insight.

Saman Nematollahi, BRAVO! student with Drs. Cyriel Pennartz and Jadin Jackson, Department of Animal Physiology and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands and UBRPer in Dr. Carol Barnes's lab, Neural Systems, Memory and Aging.

NOTE: Attend Saman's datablitz on Thursday, November 29, 2007 at 3:30 PM, Life Sciences South 440.