DEVELOPMENT OF NEUROTRANSMITTER SYSTEMS AND BEHAVIOR

本研究将探讨在发声学习和/或发声运动控制的大脑区域发育过程中观察到的儿茶酚胺功能的显著变化是否有助于发声学习和/或这些大脑区域的分化和发育。研究1将检查在声乐学习期间使用儿茶酚胺受体拮抗剂或激动剂是否会影响从导师那里学习的能力，所涉及的受体类型，以及在歌曲记忆的初始阶段进行药物治疗是否更有效。它还将确定这种治疗是否会导致大脑解剖结构的总体变化。研究2将研究用儿茶酚胺受体拮抗剂治疗成年雄性的效果，儿茶酚胺受体拮抗剂会减少鸣叫学习，以确定它们对雄性鸣叫和性行为的直接影响。儿茶酚胺的许多作用归因于它们对GABA和谷氨酸的作用。研究3将确定GABA和谷氨酸水平的水平和周转是否在歌曲学习和控制歌唱行为的大脑区域的性别分化期间发生变化。研究4将研究早期社会剥夺是否影响大脑儿茶酚胺功能和GABA和谷氨酸水平的发展，以及这些神经递质是否受到青少年与潜在声音模型的第一次相互作用的影响，这表明参与了声音模型的记忆。这项提议的一个主要目的是帮助我在行为神经科学小组的同事们实现他们的目标，成为更有成效的研究人员。我们的正式指导计划包括现代神经科学技术培训，帮助提高科学沟通技巧，以及撰写重点资助申请的具体培训。本研究解决的问题与人类大脑功能和行为问题有关。本研究将揭示几种神经递质对复杂社会行为发展的可能贡献。它还将寻找证据，表明儿茶酚胺参与刺激一些戏剧性的神经解剖学变化，这些变化发生在控制发声的大脑区域，在这种行为的发展过程中。儿茶酚胺功能的破坏与人类许多精神障碍有关。数据提供了一个更清晰的画面，说明了大脑儿茶酚胺在声音交流和社会行为发展中的正常参与，以及实验诱导的儿茶酚胺功能破坏对行为的影响，这对于那些试图理解神经递质功能如何影响行为和神经发育的人来说是有用的。

The proposed research will examine whether the striking changes in catecholamine function observed during development in brain areas involved in vocal learning and/or the motor control of vocalization contribute to vocal learning and/or the differentiation and development of these brain areas. Study 1 will examine whether the use of catecholamine receptor antagonists or agonists during the period of vocal learning affects the ability to learn from a tutor, the type of receptor(s) involve, and whether drug treatment is more effective if done during the initial period of song memorization. It will also determine if such treatment causes gross changes in brain anatomy. Study 2 will investigate the effects of treating adult males with catecholamine receptor antagonists which decrease song learning to determine their immediate effects on males' singing and sexual behavior. Many of the effects of catecholamines are attributed to their effects on GABA and glutamate. Study 3 will determine whether levels and turnover of GABA and levels of glutamate change over the period of song learning and sexual differentiation of the brain areas which control singing behavior. Study 4 will examine whether early social deprivation regards the development of brain catecholamine function and levels of GABA and glutamate and whether these neurotransmitters are affected by juveniles' first interaction with a potential vocal model, suggesting an involvement in memorization of the vocal model. A major aim of this proposal is to help my colleagues in the Behavioral Neuroscience Group to meet their goals to become more productive researchers. Our formal mentoring program involves training in modern neuroscience techniques assistance in improving scientific communication skills, and specific training in writing focused grant applications. The issues addressed by this research are relevant to problems of human brain function and behavior. This research will possess possible contributions of several neurotransmitters to the development of a complex social behavior. It will also look for evidence suggesting that catecholamines are involved in stimulating some of the dramatic neuroanatomical changes which occur in brain areas controlling vocalization during the development of this behavior. Disruptions of catecholamine function have been implicated in a number of mental disorders in humans. Data providing a clearer picture of the normal involvement of brain catecholamines in the development of vocal communication in the development of vocal communication and soci8al behavior as well as the effects of experimentally induced disruptions of catecholamine function on behavior should be useful to those attempting to understand how neurotransmitter function affects behavioral and neural development.