The locus coeruleus, Latin for blue spot, is a tiny brainstem nucleus that regulates brain-wide processing through the release of the neuromodulator noradrenaline. For a long time, investigating the blue spot in humans was a major challenge for non-invasive assessments, due to its small size and location deep under the cerebral cortex. However, recent findings implicating this structure at the earliest stages of several age-related neurodegenerative diseases sparked increased research interest. In addition, advancements in non-invasive assessments provide first insights into the structure and function of a neuromodulatory system that long seem unattainable.

In this seminar, we will first review and discuss the main theories on the effects of noradrenergic neuromodulation on cognition in order to provide an integrative understanding of this system. The second part of the seminar includes a practical session in which we will learn to manipulate and measure (proxies of) noradrenergic neuromodulation. Data collection will be followed by assisted code-based analysis.

Taken together, this seminar will combine theoretical and hands-on sessions to provide an updated understanding of the blue spot.