CORTICAL MECHANISMS IN PERCEPTION AND BEHAVIOR

本研究的长期目标是通过使用生理学、行为学和解剖学方法研究猕猴的大脑皮层和基底神经节，为理解运动的感觉控制做出贡献。 重点将放在调查的作用，运动前区和顶叶皮层在视觉控制的肢体和头部运动。一个主要的目标是继续目前的研究假设，这些地区代表的空间在“身体部位”为中心的坐标系，而不是在视网膜或头部为中心的。第二个主要目的是了解前运动神经元的感觉和运动特性之间的关系。 第三个主要目标是探索空间注意的皮层机制。 第四个主要目标是追踪运动前皮层的解剖输入，并分析它们对运动前神经元特性的贡献。 第五个主要目的是对比背侧和腹侧运动前皮层损伤的行为影响。 第六个主要目的是比较空间的编码顶叶区7b，在腹侧运动前皮质和腹外侧壳核。这项研究应有助于诊断和治疗由于发育异常、疾病、创伤、衰老和外层空间等异常环境造成的感觉运动功能障碍。 拟议的研究也可能有助于视觉和肢体假肢和人工设备的对象操作的发展。

The long-term goal of this research is to contribute to the understanding of the sensory control of movement through studies of the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia of macaques using physiological, behavioral and anatomical methods. Emphasis will be placed on investigating the role of premotor and parietal cortex in the visual control of limb and head movement. One major aim is to continue current research on the hypothesis that these areas represent space in "body-part" centered coordinate systems, rather than in retinal or head centered ones. A second major aim is to understand the relation between the sensory and motor properties of premotor neurons. A third major aim is to explore cortical mechanisms of spatial attention. A fourth major aim is to trace the anatomical inputs to premotor cortex and analyze their contributions to the properties of premotor neurons. A fifth major aim is to contrast the behavioral effects of lesions of dorsal and ventral premotor cortex. A sixth major aim is to compare the coding of space in parietal Area 7b, in the ventral premotor cortex and in the ventrolateral putamen. This research should contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of sensory-motor function caused by developmental abnormalities, disease, trauma, aging and unusual environments such as in outer space. The proposed research may also contribute to the development of visual and limb prostheses and artificial devices for object manipulation.