Synaptic processing in the basal ganglia

基底神经节的突触处理

• 批准号: 6617177
• 负责人: DAVID J PERKEL
• 金额: $ 24.3万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-03-01 至 2008-02-29
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6617177
• 关键词: auditory feedback; basal ganglia; confocal scanning microscopy; dopamine receptor; electron microscopy; excitatory aminoacid; learning; memory; neural information processing; neural transmission; neurons; neurotransmitters; prosencephalon; sensory feedback; songbirds; synapses; tissue /cell culture; vocalization; voltage /patch clamp

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Vocal learning in songbirds is a unique, experimentally accessible model of human vocal learning that also exemplifies the general process of motor learning using sensory feedback. A male songbird learns his courtship song by first memorizing his father's song, and later using auditory feedback to match his own song to his memory of his father's song. One major advantage to this model system is the existence of separate forebrain circuits involved in producing the song and in learning it. The so-called "anterior forebrain pathway", which is essential for vocal learning, has recently been found to bear gross similarities to the mammalian basal ganglia pathway, which is known to be involved in motor control and motor learning. Specifically, the general circuit connectivity, neurotransmitters used, and neuron classes present, are consistent with the hypothesis that the same basic circuitry underlies information processing in avian and mammalian basal ganglia. The experiments proposed here will use electrophysiological and morphological approaches to test whether key microcircuitry of the anterior forebrain pathway supports this view. In addition, the experiments will test whether neuromodulatory actions of dopamine in the anterior forebrain pathway are similar to those in mammals. These experiments will provide necessary information about how the avian anterior forebrain pathway works. If the hypotheses are supported, two major benefits will ensue. First, work on the avian song system will accelerate because it can be guided by the wealth of information already available for mammals. Moreover, the song system, with its advantages of a well-studied, naturally-learned behavior, will be validated as a more directly applicable model system of mammalian basal ganglia function than heretofore realized. Such complementary approaches to understanding the basal ganglia are valuable because approaches to disorders of the basal ganglia such as Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases will likely require fundamental understanding of information processing in the basal ganglia.

描述(由申请人提供)：鸣禽的发声学习是一种独特的、可通过实验获得的人类发声学习模型，它也举例说明了使用感觉反馈进行运动学习的一般过程。一只雄性鸣鸟通过首先记住它父亲的歌声来学习它的求爱歌曲，然后用听觉反馈将它自己的歌声与它对它父亲的歌声的记忆相匹配。这个模型系统的一个主要优点是存在独立的前脑回路，参与歌曲的产生和学习。前脑前部通路是发声学习所必需的，最近被发现与哺乳动物的基底节通路有很大的相似之处，后者被认为参与运动控制和运动学习。具体地说，一般的电路连接，使用的神经递质，以及存在的神经元类别，与鸟类和哺乳动物基底节信息处理相同的基本电路的假设是一致的。这里提出的实验将使用电生理学和形态学方法来测试前脑前通路的关键微电路是否支持这一观点。此外，这些实验还将测试多巴胺在前脑前通路中的神经调节作用是否与哺乳动物相似。这些实验将提供有关鸟类前脑前通路如何工作的必要信息。如果这些假设得到支持，将会带来两大好处。首先，鸟类鸣叫系统的工作将加快，因为它可以由哺乳动物已有的丰富信息指导。此外，SONG系统具有经过充分研究、自然学习的行为的优势，将被验证为比迄今所认识到的更直接适用于哺乳动物基底节功能的模型系统。这种互补的方法对于理解基底节是有价值的，因为治疗帕金森氏病和亨廷顿病等基底节疾病的方法可能需要对基底节信息处理的基本了解。