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

项目总结 候选人：曼努埃尔·戈麦斯-拉米雷斯博士是脑与认知系助理教授 罗切斯特大学理工学院(BCS)，其首要目标是建立尖端研究 重点研究调节物体感知和操纵的神经电路和放电动力学 用手(即触觉)。戈麦斯-拉米雷斯博士在城市大学城市学院完成了博士学位 研究人类分心抑制的机制。他转而研究机械原理 用约翰霍普金斯大学的多电极单单位记录研究非人类灵长类的触觉知觉 大学。他在布朗大学进行了第二次博士后研究，学习基于钙的成像 以及小鼠的光遗传学方法。在他的新实验室中，戈麦斯-拉米雷斯博士的目标是将在 他获得了博士后奖学金，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如何控制 手上编码分心刺激的新皮质表征。他将使用尖端的电生理学 以及神经调节方法(即光遗传学)来确定神经回路及其动力学 对分心的触觉输入的感觉抑制。目标1考察注意对调节的粒度 通过靶向细胞感受野(RF)抑制性和/或兴奋性亚区的感觉反应。目标2 研究注意的精确度和灵活性在不同躯体主题上的分心抑制作用。 躯体感觉系统中的表征。目的3测试第5层SST神经元在调节感觉中的作用 颗粒层上的增益抑制，这是区域内和区域间通信的主要皮质层。 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)方面的专业知识，以及(2) 光遗传刺激研究自上而下信号对局部体感皮层的调控 代表相关与无关触觉信息的电路。该奖项还将在赠款中提供关键培训 和手稿写作，人事管理，以及参加课外活动，这将 提升我的事业和专业发展。K01科学导师团队由世界专家组成 在他们各自的研究领域，并一直是指导和支持初级教员的榜样。这个 终身教职监督小组由额外的高级教员组成，将提供另一层监督 确保任期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R01申请提供参考，重点是 研究自上而下信号如何调制跨皮质体感电路，介导物体感知和 操纵。该奖项将帮助提供关于尖端电生理、计算和 向戈麦斯-拉米雷斯博士实验室的人员提供基于基因的光学方法。

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.