Synaptic processing in the basal ganglia

基底神经节的突触处理

基本信息

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
项目类别：
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

项目摘要

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）：鸣禽中的声带学习是一种独特的，实验可访问的人声学习模型，也体现了使用感觉反馈的运动学习的一般过程。一位男鸣禽通过首次记住父亲的歌来学习他的求爱歌曲，然后使用听觉反馈将自己的歌与他父亲的歌曲相匹配。该模型系统的一个主要优点是存在于制作歌曲和学习中涉及的单独的前脑电路。最近发现，所谓的“前脑前脑途径”与哺乳动物基底神经节途径相似，该途径与哺乳动物的基底神经节途径相似，该途径与运动控制和运动学习有关。具体而言，普通电路连通性，使用的神经递质和存在的神经元类别与以下假设一致：相同基本电路是禽和哺乳动物基底神经节中信息处理的基础。此处提出的实验将使用电生理和形态学方法来测试前前前脑途径的关键微电路，是否支持这种观点。此外，实验将测试多巴胺在前脑途径中的神经调节作用是否与哺乳动物中的神经调节作用相似。这些实验将提供有关禽流前途径如何工作的必要信息。如果支持假设，将会带来两个主要好处。首先，在禽歌系统上的工作将加速，因为它可以由已用于哺乳动物的大量信息来指导。此外，与迄今为止所实现的哺乳动物基底神经节功能更直接适用的哺乳动物基底神经节功能的模型系统，该歌曲系统具有良好的，自然学习的行为的优势。理解基础神经节的这种补充方法是有价值的，因为帕金森氏症和亨廷顿疾病等基底神经节疾病的方法可能需要对基底神经节信息处理的基本了解。