Neurophysiology of Working Memory Maturation in Adolescence

项目摘要 这个项目的目标是研究成熟过程的神经基质， 发生在青春期，与一个关键的认知能力的发展有关。 能力工作记忆前额叶皮层，大脑的一部分，在灵长类动物中大大扩展 与其他脊椎动物相比，经历了一个漫长的成熟过程， 青春期和成年早期。这个过程反映了更高认知能力的发展。 功能协调发展的许多精神疾病的发作与前额叶的成熟有关 皮质，最明显的是精神分裂症，表现在成年早期。执行功能 在成年期也有所改善，这种能力的发展不足与以下因素有关： 青少年犯罪和其他健康和社会问题。很少有人知道的 前额叶皮层在青春期经历的生理变化， 增强认知控制力。利用最近的方法和概念 进展，我们建议调查前额叶皮层生理学的变化， 在青春期之后。我们建议使用非人类灵长类动物模型，使我们能够进行 在青春期和成年动物的前额叶皮层的神经生理学记录。我们 这项研究将利用经过训练的猴子来完成测试工作记忆的行为任务 能力实验将记录与任务表现相关的神经元活动，以了解 青春期开始后，神经系统变成熟。这些实验将提供关于 前额叶皮层的发育如何改变其生理反应， 对于理解和治疗被认为与失败有关的精神疾病至关重要 前额叶皮质成熟的迹象

PROJECT SUMMARY The goal of this project is to investigate the neural substrates of the maturation process that takes place around puberty and which is associated with the development of a key cognitive ability, working memory. The prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain greatly expanded in primates compared to other vertebrates, undergoes a long maturation process that extends through puberty and into early adulthood. This process mirrors the development of higher cognitive functions. A number of mental illnesses have onsets linked to the maturation of the prefrontal cortex, most notably schizophrenia, which manifests itself in early adulthood. Executive function also improves in adulthood, and inadequate development of this capacity is associated with delinquency and other conditions of health and social significance. Little is known about the physiological changes that the prefrontal cortex undergoes in adolescence so as to mediate increased cognitive control. Taking advantage of recent methodological and conceptual advances, we propose to investigate the changes of prefrontal cortical physiology that occur after puberty. We propose to use a non-human primate model that will allow us to conduct neurophysiological recordings in the prefrontal cortex of peri-pubertal and adult animals. Our study will make use of monkeys trained to perform behavioral tasks that test working memory ability. Experiments will record neuronal activity related to task performance to understand what neural variables maturate after the onset of puberty. These experiments will offer insights on how development of the prefrontal cortex alters its physiological responses, findings that will be essential for understanding and treating mental illnesses thought to be associated with a failure of prefrontal cortical maturation.