The neurobiology of operant behavior

在过去的15年里，神经科学一直在采用这样一种观点，即所有大脑的功能原理都是一种持续不断的活动。外部刺激只是调节这种活动，并可能引导它走向特定的模式。大脑是如何产生这些不断波动的活动模式的，目前还不清楚。在这个提议中，我们首先建立在我们之前对果蝇的研究基础上，提出了果蝇大脑中一组椭球体神经元对自发行为的时间结构的关键作用。此外，我们应用行为结果的传入反馈对自发行为的修正来进一步了解自发行为的神经元控制。在这项工作中，我们建议使用神经遗传学方法，如光遗传学和计算机分析转基因动物的行为。这项研究的最终目标是利用这种双管齐下的方法，通过内部和外部因素，对自发行为的神经元控制有一个基本的、机械的理解。

Over the last 15 years, the neurosciences have been adopting the perspective that the functional principle of all brains is one of constant ongoing activity. External stimuli merely modulate this activity and may be able to guide it towards specific patterns. How brains are generating these constantly fluctuating patterns of ongoing activity is still largely unclear. In this proposal we first build on our previous work in the fruit fly Drosophila, suggesting a critical role for a group of ellipsoid-body neurons in the brain of the fly for the temporal structure of spontaneous behavior. Moreover, we apply to use the modification of spontaneous behavior by reafferent feedback from behavioral outcomes to learn more about the neuronal control of spontaneous behavior. For this work we propose to use neurogenetic methods such as optogenetics and computerized analysis of the behavior of transgenic animals. Ultimate goal of the proposed research is to use this two-pronged approach to come to a fundamental, mechanistic understanding of the neuronal control of spontaneous behavior, both via internal and external factors.