Encoding information that coordinates distributed neural microcircuits

协调分布式神经微电路的编码信息

• 批准号: 1147058
• 负责人: Brian Mulloney
• 金额: $ 16万
• 依托单位: University of California-Davis
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-04-15 至 2015-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1147058&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Encoding; information; coordinates; distributed; neural

A major goal of neuroscience is to understand the dynamics of neural circuits. In most cases, ignorance of intrinsic neural properties and the synaptic organization of circuits limit our ability to understand a circuit's function or to cure disorders of the nervous system caused by its malfunction. Modulation by transmitters and hormones can change the properties of neurons and synapses in these circuits dramatically, but leave some features of the circuit's performance strangely unmodified. This project exploits new discoveries of the synaptic organization of a circuit in the crayfish central nervous system (CNS) that coordinates limb movements during locomotion. This coordinating circuit links four pairs of modular local circuits distributed in different parts of the CNS that control individual limbs and are active during locomotion. Periodic motor output from these local circuits is synchronized, but occurs with a stable difference in phase between neighboring circuits. The goal of this research is to understand and explain in cellular terms the encoding of information needed to coordinate these distributed circuits. Electrophysiological experiments and computational analyses will be used to study and model encoding of information by the circuit's key coordinating neurons. How stable phase differences are maintained in the face of neuromodulation is a deep problem. For example, cholinergic modulation of this system changes the period and strength of its motor output, but does not affect the phase differences between neighboring circuits. Electrophysiological and pharmacological experiments will be used to analyze how cholinergic modulation tunes encoding so that phase remains constant when period changes. This research will generate insights and analytical methods that can be applied to similar systems in the brain stem and spinal cord, and to rhythmic neural circuits in the brain. Student participants will be involved in all aspects of the project. The results will also be directly applicable to the development of flexible and adaptive robotic devices.

神经科学的一个主要目标是了解神经回路的动力学。 在大多数情况下，对固有神经特性和回路的突触组织的无知限制了我们理解回路功能或治疗由其故障引起的神经系统疾病的能力。 递质和激素的调节可以显著改变这些回路中神经元和突触的特性，但奇怪的是，回路的某些性能却没有改变。 该项目利用了小龙虾中枢神经系统（CNS）中一个回路的突触组织的新发现，该回路在运动期间协调肢体运动。 这个协调回路连接了分布在中枢神经系统不同部位的四对模块化局部回路，这些局部回路控制个体肢体，并在运动过程中活跃。 这些本地电路的周期性电机输出是同步的，但相邻电路之间存在稳定的相位差。 这项研究的目标是理解和解释细胞方面的编码信息需要协调这些分布式电路。 电生理学实验和计算分析将被用来研究和模拟电路的关键协调神经元的信息编码。 面对神经调节，如何保持稳定的相位差是一个深层次的问题。 例如，该系统的胆碱能调制改变其运动输出的周期和强度，但不影响相邻电路之间的相位差。 电生理学和药理学实验将被用来分析胆碱能调制调谐编码，使相位保持恒定时，周期的变化。 这项研究将产生可应用于脑干和脊髓中类似系统以及大脑中节律神经回路的见解和分析方法。 学生参与者将参与项目的各个方面。 研究结果也将直接适用于灵活和自适应机器人设备的开发。