The role of the nucleus reuniens in the temporal organization of memory andbehavior

项目总结/摘要 时间组织对许多感知、认知和行为功能至关重要。这些时间 能力在几种精神健康障碍中受到不利影响，包括但不限于精神分裂症 注意力缺陷障碍（ADHD）。然而，时间组织的神经生物学基础 对记忆和行为的影响仍然知之甚少。在这里，我们将重点放在核团聚的 丘脑（RE），一个研究不足的大脑区域，位于海马体和海马体之间的通讯联系处， 内侧前额叶皮质。RE在解剖学上被定位为深刻地影响记忆之间的相互作用， 和执行系统。基于解剖学和理论上的考虑，我们假设 RE是必不可少的，RE神经元代表事件序列和经过的时间。然而，没有什么是 了解RE在时间和时间背景中的作用。在这个项目中，我们将直接测试 RE在时间和时间背景下的记忆和行为。我们将使用广泛的行为策略测试 三种不同的基本计时任务：AIM 1，对事件序列的记忆; AIM 2，经过时间的记忆 （刻度=分钟）; AIM 3，间隔计时（刻度=数十秒）。一种实验方法是 测试RE和RE电路的因果作用，使用蝇蕈醇和最先进的病毒传递抑制剂， 设计师受体专门由设计师药物激活（DREADDs）。在另一种方法中，我们将记录 RE神经活动-神经元，合奏和局部场电位-使用尖端的可驱动四极管 阵完成这些目标将为理解可再生能源在以下方面的作用奠定基础知识： 记忆和行为的时间组织。重要的是，我们将把我们的发现整合到一个统一的 内侧前额叶皮层-联合体-海马系统内RE电路的理论框架。什么 我们从这些研究中了解到，这将导致研究发生在大脑中的时间功能障碍的新方法。 许多精神疾病。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Temporal organization is critical to many perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral functions. These temporal abilities are adversely impacted in several mental health disorders including, but not limited to, schizophrenia and attention-deficit disorder (ADHD). However, the neurobiological underpinnings of the temporal organization of memory and behavior remain poorly understood. Here, we will focus on the nucleus reuniens of the thalamus (RE), an understudied brain region at the nexus of communication between the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. RE is anatomically positioned to profoundly influence interactions between memory and executive systems in the brain. Based on anatomical and theoretical considerations, we hypothesize that RE is essential to, and RE neurons represent, sequences of events and elapsed time. However, nothing is known about the role of RE in time and temporal contexts. In this project, we will directly test the role of RE in time and temporal contexts in memory and behavior. We will use a broad behavioral strategy testing three different fundamental timing tasks: AIM1, memory for sequences of events; AIM2, elapsed-time memory (scale = minutes); and AIM3, interval timing (scale = tens of seconds). One experimental approach will be to test the causal role of RE, and RE circuitry, using muscimol and state-of-the-art virally-delivered inhibitory designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs). In another approach, we will record RE neural activity—neurons, ensembles, and local field potentials—using cutting-edge driveable tetrode arrays. Completion of these aims will establish foundational knowledge for understanding the role of the RE in the temporal organization of memory and behavior. Importantly, we will integrate our findings into a unified theoretical framework for RE circuitry within a medial prefrontal cortex-reuniens-hippocampus system. What we learn from these studies will lead to new approaches in the study of temporal dysfunctions that occur in numerous mental health disorders.