NEURAL BASIS OF ASSOCIATIVE LEARNING

目前的研究计划探讨了复杂的神经解剖学基础， 在虎皮鹦鹉中学习。 我们已经知道了很多关于基本的 通过对发声的研究发现了这个物种的神经行为学过程， 听力，生殖行为的行为学和生理学， CNS的神经解剖学。 因此，虎皮鹦鹉提供了一个独特的 模型的基本生物因素的相互作用， 学习 提出了三组相关的实验。 第一、 神经解剖学和路径追踪技术将用于扩展 研究参与处理声音信息的途径， 虎皮鹦鹉的中枢神经系统-这项工作已经开始， 目前由NIMH的一小笔赠款资助。 第二，操作性 在这个物种中已经证明成功的调节程序将是 修改后允许应用复杂多维缩放 第一次，技术来检查自然的知觉学习， 听觉和视觉刺激。 第三，以知识为导向， 上述路径追踪、操作性条件反射和多维度 缩放实验，这些技术将结合起来，以检查 损伤选定的大脑区域和路径对学习的影响。 这 混合技术提供了一个独特的机会，探索神经 听觉和视觉的整合或多通道联系的基础 学习过程中的信息。 通过解决一般的生物学问题， 目前的研究计划将提供一些深入的见解的基本 所有复杂脊椎动物共有的学习生物学基础 包括人类

The present research plan examines the neuroanatomical basis for complex learning in the budgerigar. Much is already known about basic neuroethological processes in this species from studies of vocalizations, hearing, and the ethology and physiology of reproductive behavior and the neuroanatomy of the CNS. For this reason the budgerigar offers a unique model for examining the interaction of basic biological factors in learning. Three related sets of experiments are proposed. First, neuroanatomical and pathway tracing techniques will be used to extend a study of the pathways involved in the processing of acoustic information in the central nervous system of the budgerigar - work that was initiated and is currently funded with a small grant from NIMH. Second, an operant conditioning procedure already proven successful in this species will be modified to allow the application of sophisticated multidimensinal scaling tecniques to examine, for the first time, perceptual learning of natural acoustic and visual stimuli. Third, guided by the knowledge gained from the above pathway tracing, operant conditioning, and multidimensional scaling experiments, these techniques will be combined to examine the effect of lesioning selected brain areas and pathways on learning. This blend of techniques provides a unique opportunity to explore the neural basis of the integration or intermodal association of auditory and visual information during learning. By addressing general biological issues, the present research plan will offer some penetrating insights into the basic biological foundations of learning common to all complex vertebrates including humans.