NEURAL MEDIATION OF CONDITIONED TASTE AVERSIONS

描述（改编自申请人的摘要）： 行为神经科学是神经通路的改变如何介导 学习中的持久行为变化。 味觉厌恶条件反射 是研究学习过程中神经变化的绝佳模型 因为这种条件作用可以在一次试验中发生， 条件刺激和非条件刺激之间的延迟。 拟议的研究 是基于对行为的细胞相关性的识别， 条件性味觉厌恶的表达，即， 孤独的道 C-fos诱导发生在细胞核中的细胞， 孤束反应的味道作出厌恶条件反射，但不是 在条件反射之前对相同的味道作出反应或对味道作出反应（奎宁） 这是天生的厌恶。 拟议的研究将联合收割机这种细胞 采用行为学评估进一步评估细胞c-fos 反应及其作为学习标志的可靠性。 研究还将 研究孤束核中细胞的功能重要性 在表达这种学习过程中显示c-fos诱导的纤维束， 使用不对称损伤技术。 此外，研究将继续 来定义对这种学习至关重要的前脑通路，重点是 杏仁核与孤束核的同侧联系 这些通道似乎是细胞以及行为 这种学习的表现。 岛叶皮层的作用也将是 考察 最后，研究将确定活化修饰的靶点， 条件反射后对味觉的行为反应。 通过定义神经 参与CTA学习的途径和细胞类型，该项目提供了 为最终表征内部的塑性变化奠定了基础， 细胞之间的相互作用

DESCRIPTION (adapted from applicant's abstract): A central issue in behavioral neuroscience is how alterations in neural pathways mediate the durable behavior changes involved in learning. Taste aversion conditioning is an excellent model for studying the neural changes involved in learning because this conditioning can occur in a single trial, despite lengthy delays between conditioned and unconditioned stimuli. The proposed studies are based on the identification of a cellular correlate of the behavioral expression of a conditioned taste aversion, namely, cells in the nucleus of the solitary tract. C-fos induction occurs in cells in the nucleus of the solitary tract in response to a taste made aversive by conditioning, but not in response to the same taste prior to conditioning or to a taste (quinine) which is innately aversive. Proposed studies will combine this cellular measure with behavioral assessment to further assess the cellular c-fos response and its reliability as a marker of learning. Studies will also examine the functional importance of cells in the nucleus of the solitary tract which display c-fos induction during expression of this learning, using asymmetrical lesion techniques. Additionally, studies will continue to define the forebrain pathways critical to this learning, with a focus on ipsilateral connections between the amygdala and the nucleus of the solitary tract which appear necessary for cellular, as well as behavioral, manifestations of this learning. The role of insular cortex will also be examined. Finally, studies will identify the targets of activated modified behavioral response to a taste after conditioning. By defining the neural pathways and cell types involved in CTA learning, this project provide the groundwork for eventually characterizing the plastic changes within and between cells which underlie this learning.