The Neural Basis of Active Sensory Gain Suppression in the Somatosensory System

项目摘要 候选人：Manuel Gomez-Ramirez博士是大脑和认知系的助理教授 科学（BCS）在罗切斯特大学，其首要目标是建立尖端的研究 一个专注于研究神经回路和刺激动力学的项目，这些神经回路和刺激动力学介导了物体的感知和操纵 用手（即，触觉学）。戈麦斯-拉米雷斯博士完成了博士学位在城市大学城市学院 研究人类的分心抑制机制。他转而研究 在约翰霍普金斯使用多电极单单位记录的非人类灵长类动物的触觉感知 大学他在布朗大学进行了第二次博士后研究，学习钙基成像 和小鼠的光遗传学方法。在他的新实验室里，戈麦斯-拉米雷斯博士的目标是将在他的实验室里学到的技术结合起来。 他的博士后奖学金在非人类灵长类动物模型中研究触觉。 研究：在这个奖项中，戈麦斯-拉米雷斯博士将研究选择性注意力如何控制感官增益， 新皮层表征编码手部的干扰刺激。他会用尖端的电生理技术 和神经调节方法（即，光遗传学），以确定神经回路，及其动力学，介导 对分散注意力的触觉输入的感觉抑制。目的1研究注意的粒度调制 通过靶向细胞的感受野（RF）抑制性和/或兴奋性子区域的感觉反应。目的2 研究了注意力在不同躯体位置的分散抑制中的精确性和灵活性 躯体感觉系统中的表征。目的3检测SST第5层神经元在介导感觉神经元传导中的作用。 在颗粒上层，即区域内和区域间通信的主要皮质层中的增益抑制。 培训，导师，合作者和环境：该奖项的主要研究培训目标是 获得（1）尖端群体解码方法（例如，状态空间分析方法），以及（2） 猴子的光遗传学刺激，以研究自上而下的信号如何调节局部体感皮层 代表相关与不相关触觉信息的电路。该奖项还将提供赠款的关键培训 和手稿写作，人事管理，以及参与课外活动， 促进我的职业和专业发展。K 01科学指导团队由世界级专家组成 在他们各自的研究领域，并一直是指导和支持初级教师的榜样。的 终身教职监督团队由额外的高级教师组成，将提供另一层监督， 确保权属计划中提议的活动取得进展。 影响和意义：从该奖项的研究中收集的数据将为R 01应用提供信息，重点是 研究自上而下的信号如何调制介导物体感知的跨皮层体感回路， 操纵该奖项将有助于提供尖端电生理学，计算和 遗传光学方法的实验室人员。

PROJECT SUMMARY The candidate: Dr. Manuel Gomez-Ramirez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) at the University of Rochester, whose overarching goal is to establish cutting-edge research program focused on studying neural circuits and spiking dynamics that mediate object sensing and manipulation with the hands (i.e., haptics). Dr. Gomez-Ramirez completed his Ph.D. at the City College of the City University of New York studying mechanisms of distracter suppression in humans. He transitioned to studying mechanisms of tactile perception in non-human primates using multi-electrode single-unit recordings at the Johns Hopkins University. He conducted a second post-doctoral fellowship at Brown University to learn calcium-based imaging and optogenetic methods in mice. In his new lab, Dr. Gomez-Ramirez aims to incorporate techniques learned in his post-doctoral fellowships to study haptics in a non-human primate model. Research: In this award, Dr. Gomez-Ramirez will study how selective attention controls the sensory gain of neocortical representations encoding distracter stimuli on the hand. He will use cutting-edge electrophysiological and neuromodulation methods (i.e., optogenetics) to determine the neural circuit, and its dynamics, that mediate sensory suppression of distracting tactile inputs. Aim 1 investigates the granularity of attention to modulate sensory responses via targeting of cells’ receptive field (RF) inhibitory and/or excitatory sub-regions. Aim 2 investigates the precision and flexibility of attention to deploy distracter suppression across different somatotopic representations in the somatosensory system. Aim 3 tests the role of layer 5 SST neurons in mediating sensory gain suppression in supragranular layers, the mayor cortical layer of intra- and inter-area communication. Training, Mentors, Collaborators, and Environment: The major research training goals of this award are to gain expertise in (1) Cutting-edge population decoding methods (e.g., state-space analytical methods), and (2) optogenetic stimulation in monkeys to study the how top-down signals regulate local somatosensory cortical circuits representing relevant vs. irrelevant tactile information. This award will also provide key training in grant and manuscript writing, personnel management, as well as engagement in extracurricular activities that will enhance my career and professional development. The K01 scientific mentoring team comprises world-experts in their respective field of research, and have been role models for mentoring and supporting junior faculty. The Tenure Oversight team is composed additional senior faculty that will provide another layer of monitoring to ensure progress in the activities proposed in the tenure plan. Impact and Significance: Data gathered from studies in this award will inform an R01 application focused on studying how top-down signals modulate cross-cortical somatosensory circuits mediating object sensing and manipulation. This award will help provide training on cutting-edge electrophysiological, computational, and genetic-based optical methods to personnel in the Dr. Gomez-Ramirez’s lab.