CAREER: Afferent Thermosensory Mechanisms and Social Behavior

最近对人类的研究表明，拿着一杯热咖啡，而不是一杯冷咖啡，会增加亲社会行为，而个人没有意识到温度对他们行为的影响。虽然所涉及的机制尚未明确，但这些发现表明，有一些机制可以通过皮肤温暖的感觉来影响社会行为。劳里实验室的初步数据表明，脑干中产生大脑化学物质血清素的神经元亚群可能是温度对社会行为影响的原因。此外，这些初步数据表明，温度敏感蛋白，温度激活瞬时受体电位（TRP）离子通道4 (TRPv4)，可能负责感知皮肤的温度变化，导致血清素能神经元的激活。PI将测试以下假设：(1)大脑中血清素能神经元子集的神经元活动通过涉及TRPv4激活的机制对温度升高做出反应；(2)TRPv4的激活导致焦虑相关行为减少，相反，增加社会互动。解剖学、电生理学、药理学和行为学方法将用于研究血清素能神经元子集在感知温度和调节行为中的作用。预计温暖的温度会激活一个子集的血清素能神经元投射到参与调节社会行为的大脑结构。高温对血清素能神经元的激活也依赖于温度敏感通道TRPv4的激活。本研究将提供有关热刺激对高度保守的神经递质系统（血清素能系统）、情绪和社会行为影响的新信息，这些新信息在脊椎动物和无脊椎动物分类群中具有应用价值。该项目将为研究生和本科生提供宝贵的培训机会，并为附近社区代表性不足的高中生提供外展和研究指导。

Recent studies in humans have demonstrated that holding a warm cup of coffee, as opposed to a cold cup of coffee, increases pro-social behavior, without any conscious awareness by the individual of the effects of temperature on their behavior. Although the mechanisms involved have not been defined, these findings suggest that there are mechanisms through which sensation of warm temperature in the skin can affect social behavior. Preliminary data from the Lowry laboratory suggest that a subpopulation of neurons in the brainstem that produce the brain chemical serotonin may be responsible for the effects of temperature on social behavior. Furthermore, these preliminary data suggest that a temperature-sensitive protein, temperature-activated transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel 4 (TRPv4), may be responsible for sensing temperature changes in the skin that lead to activation of serotonergic neurons. The PI will test the hypotheses that (1) the neuronal activity of a subset of serotonergic neurons in the brain responds to increases in temperature via mechanisms involving TRPv4 activation, and (2) activation of TRPv4 leads to decreased anxiety-related behaviors and, conversely, increases in social interaction.Anatomical, electrophysiological, pharmacological, and behavioral approaches will be used to investigate the role of a subset of serotonergic neurons in both sensing temperature and regulating behavior. Warm temperature is expected to activate a subset of serotonergic neurons projecting to brain structures involved in regulation of social behavior. This activation of serotonergic neurons by warm temperature is also expected to be dependent on activation of the temperature-sensitive channel TRPv4. This research will provide new information relevant to the effects of thermal stimuli on a highly conserved neurotransmitter system, the serotonergic system, and on emotional and social behavior, new information that has application across vertebrate and invertebrate taxa. This project will provide valuable training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students as well as incorporating outreach and research mentoring for underrepresented high school students in the nearby community.