Synaptic Plasticity is the modulation of synapses to effect change in signal response strength of receiving neurons. It is a key mechanism in current models of learning and memory. Synapses are modulated in response to signals. These signals are mediated by small molecules such as calcium ions and integrated to produce a neuronal signalling response in the receiving neuron creating a cascade of information processing and dissemination within the brain. Dendrites form a geometrically complex branching tree of wires along which the signal receiving and modifiable synaptic spines are embedded. Calcium dynamics within dendrites and between spines shape signal integration and synaptic plasticity in ways that are not well understood. I am working with collaborators in the Emptage Lab at the Department of Pharmacology to develop a systematic multilayer networks approach to analysing 3D dynamic calcium images of dendrites. The data is generated using a novel light sheet microscopy protocol being developed by Nigel Emptage and Peter Haslehurst [1]. Apart from providing new hypotheses to be tested by these collaborators, we hope that this research will generate exciting insights into the complex relationship between dendritic tree topology, calcium signal integration and the many modes of synaptic plasticity. <br><br> [1] Haslehurst, et al., 2018. Fast volume-scanning light sheet microscopy reveals transient neuronal events. Biomedical optics express, 9(5), pp.2154-2167.