MODULATION OF NEURONAL RESPONSES IN SOMATOSENSORY CORTEX

描述：（改编自研究者摘要） 在触觉物体识别中，我们注意并记住所选择的特征 顺序触摸，同时整合导致识别的信息。 为了理解这个复杂的过程，我们建议使用全脑功能 人类磁共振成像（fMRI）和单神经元记录研究 在接受触觉记忆任务训练的猴子中， 触觉的感觉和认知过程的功能解剖学 注意力和记忆力。 我们提出了五个相互关联的功能磁共振成像实验，将确定：（a） 初级躯体感觉皮层的范围，专门用于选择性激活 每个指尖中的受体（实验1-2），（B）皮层区域的网络 参与触觉注意的认知过程（实验3-4），以及（c） 网络与触觉记忆（实验5）。前两个实验测试 注意涉及对记录的动态调制的假设 躯体位置图后两个实验的重点是性质的 注意振动的刺激属性的功能解剖学 频率、表面粗糙度和触觉刺激持续时间。第五 一项实验研究了工作记忆任务中的功能解剖学 振动频率。实验3-5中确定的重叠病灶表明 触觉物体识别的可能网络，因为这些区域将 与记忆和注意力过程相同。 两项神经生理学研究（实验6a，6 b）将记录以下神经相关因素： 感觉和工作记忆在额叶和躯体感觉皮层，区域可能 在功能磁共振成像研究中被识别出来。因此，这些对单个神经元的观察 将在延迟间隔期间显示记忆触觉的差异活动 刺激，因此，突出了潜在的可能的时间动态 人体研究中的功能解剖学

DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from the Investigator's Abstract) In tactile object recognition we attend to and remember selected features sequentially touched while integrating the information leading to recognition. To understand this complex process we propose using whole-brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in humans and single neuron recording studies in monkeys, who are trained on tactile memory tasks, to investigate the functional anatomy of the sensory and cognitive processes underlying tactile attention and memory. We propose five interrelated fMRI experiments that will determine: (a) the extent of primary somatosensory cortex dedicated to selective activation of the receptors in each fingertip (Exps 1-2), (b) the network of cortical areas engaged by the cognitive processes of tactile attention (Exps 3-4), and (c) the network associated with tactile memory (Exp 5). The first two experiments test the hypothesis that attention involves dynamic modulation of recorded somatotopic maps. The second two experiments focus on the nature of the functional anatomy engaged by attention to the stimulus attributes of vibration frequency, surface roughness and tactile stimulus duration. The fifth experiment examines the functional anatomy engaged during a working memory task for vibration frequency. Overlapping foci identified in Exps 3-5 will suggest a possible network for tactile object recognition because these regions will be common to memory and attention processes. Two neurophysiology studies (Exps 6a, 6b) will record the neural correlates of sensory and working memory in frontal and somatosensory cortex, areas likely to be identified in the fMRI studies. Thus, these observations of single neurons will show differential activity during delay intervals for remembered tactile stimuli and, therefore, highlight the likely temporal dynamics underlying the functional anatomy in the human studies.