MNEMONIC PROPERTIES OF THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX

有越来越多的证据表明，前额叶皮质 在几个哺乳动物物种中参与工作记忆。前额叶 大脑皮质损伤会导致多种工作记忆缺陷 人类，以及啮齿动物。这些结果表明， 前额叶皮质可能参与不同脑区的工作记忆 属性，即空间、情感、运动反应。最近的证据 表明这种类型的工作记忆缺陷 继而前额叶皮质受损可能与病变有关 地点。了解特定的前额叶皮质亚区是否 在工作记忆中调节不同类型的信息 背景，将为记忆的生物学提供重要的洞察力。至 建立一个更全面的神经过程视图， 前额叶皮质亚区的潜在记忆也需要 对可能起作用的神经递质系统的检查 关键角色。目前的建议是研究神经过程。 在前额叶皮质对不同的工作记忆很重要 属性。第一组实验调查是否存在 是前扣带回之间的分离， 调解工作中的前缘性/下缘性和无颗粒性 对空间位置、视觉对象、情感和运动的记忆 回应。根据之前的研究和初步数据，它是 预测前扣带回调节工作记忆 运动反应，前缘/下缘调节工作记忆 对于空间和物体，以及无颗粒的岛状媒介工作 影响的记忆。第二组实验评估了 前额叶皮质亚区内的乙酰胆碱调节工作 不同属性的内存。我们的假设是 胆碱能系统在前额叶各亚区都很重要 处理特定属性的工作记忆。总的来说，这些 实验将提供对记忆法的更好的理解 前额叶皮质亚区和前额叶的功能 这些功能的神经化学调节。因此，这些研究可以 增加我们对记忆的神经生物学的知识，并可能 最终导致对认知功能障碍的有效治疗。

There is accumulating evidence that the prefrontal cortex is involved in working memory in several mammalian species. Prefrontal cortex damage leads to a variety of working memory deficits in humans, as well as rodents. These results suggest that the prefrontal cortex may be involved in working memory for different attributes, i.e. space, affect, motor responses. Recent evidence suggest that the type of working memory deficit that results following prefrontal cortex damaged may be related to the lesion site. Understanding whether specific prefrontal cortex subregions mediate different types of information within a working memory context, will lend important insight into the biology of memory. To build a more comprehensive view of the neural processes that underlie memory within prefrontal cortex subregions, also calls for an examination of the neurotransmitter systems that may play a critical role. The present proposal examines the neural processes in the prefrontal cortex important for working memory of different attributes. The first set of experiments investigates whether there are dissociations between the anterior cingulate, prelimbic/infralimbic and agranular insular in mediating working memory for spatial locations, visual objects, affect and motor responses. Based on previous studies and preliminary data, it is predicted that the anterior cingulate mediates working memory for motor responses, the prelimbic/infralimbic mediates working memory for space and objects and the agranular insular mediates working memory for affect. The second set of experiments assesses whether acetylcholine within prefrontal cortex subregions modulates working memory for different attributes. The hypothesis is that the cholinergic system is important in all prefrontal subregions for processing working memory for specific attributes. Overall, these experiments will provide a better understanding of the mnemonic functions mediated by prefrontal cortex subregions and the neurochemical modulation of these functions. Thus, the studies may increase our knowledge about the neurobiology of memory and may ultimately lead to effective treatments for cognitive dysfunctions.