Analysis of the functional anatomy involved in the learning of the visual discrimination task in macaque monkeys.

在猴子中，在解决数百个独特的视觉辨别问题的经验之后，它们根据学习集合的形成很快地解决一个新问题，该学习集合的形成被定义为学习如何学习问题。为探讨视觉辨别任务学习过程中的功能解剖学特点，我们利用[^<15>O]-H_2O对猕猴（macacamulatta）进行了正电子发射计算机断层扫描（PET）研究。PET扫描是在第一次体验任务时（无经验的新辨别，IND）和解决数十个独特问题后（有经验的新辨别，END）进行的。SPM统计分析显示，IND患者的眶额皮质、视觉皮质、体感皮质、运动皮质、小脑及部分皮质下结构均被激活，而背外侧前额叶皮层和视觉皮层包括高级区域被激活，但躯体感觉和运动相关区域没有被激活。视觉辨别学习的显著变化取决于他们积累的经验。背外侧前额叶皮质和高级视觉区的募集可能与猴子视觉辨别学习的学习集形成有关。

In monkeys, after the experience of solving hundreds of unique problems of visual discrimination, they become to solve a novel problem very quickly according to the learning-set formation that is defined as learning how to learn the problem. To assess the functional anatomy that is critically involved in learning process of visual discrimination task before and after the learning-set formation, we performed PET study using[^<15>O]-H_2O in monkeys (macaca mulatta).PET images were acquired while monkeys are solving a novel problem of visual discrimination with two geometrical patterns. PET scans were performed at the first experience of the task (an inexperienced novel discrimination, IND), and after the experience of solving several tens of unique problems (an experienced novel discrimination, END). The simple visuomotor task was also conducted as a control.The statistical analysis by SPM revealed that the orbitofrontal, visual, somatosensory, and motor cortices, cerebellum and some subcortical structures were significantly activated in IND, while the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and visual cortices including higher order areas but not the somatosensory and motor related areas were activated in END.These results indicate that neuronal circuits for the visual discrimination learning dramatically changed depending on their accumulated experience. Recruitments of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and higher order visual areas could be associated with the learning-set formation for the visual discrimination learning in monkeys.