A Resource for the Study of Neural Models of Behavior

描述（由申请人提供）：罗切斯特大学研究资源的重点是将大脑的神经编码与观察到的行为联系起来。神经编码的关键特征是其缓慢的时间尺度。行为编码必须在10-100毫秒的时间范围内进行。现在人们认为计算理论必须在这一层次的描述中发挥核心作用，但要检验它的解释力需要大量的实验。由于这个原因，该资源专门针对研究大脑在这些时间尺度上的行为。这是通过使用高性能计算机模拟真实世界的环境来完成的，这种方式允许它们作为行为的函数被操纵。组成实验室的核心是创新的仪器，用于产生视觉和动力刺激，同时监测行为状态。特别强调视觉、运动、本体感受和触觉状态在感觉-运动协调中的应用。该资源包括人类和动物实验以及广泛的计算机模拟。资源设备位于三个实验室：(1)一个虚拟现实实验室，当人类受试者使用真实和虚拟显示器从事视觉引导任务时，可以同时记录不受限制的头部，眼睛和手部运动。(2)一种用于人类受试者的视觉和前庭刺激设备，该设备使用虚拟显示器与能够以任何组合提供精确角加速度和线性加速度的雪橇旋转装置相结合。此外，动物研究实验室用于清醒行为的猴子也具有与上述类似的能力。(3)拟人仿真实验室，利用机器人硬件和图形仿真软件模拟感觉-运动协调。该设备将现有的高速双目摄像机控制系统与拟人化的四指手结合在一起。目前的提案将允许继续发展最先进的心理物理和神经生理测量设备，并提高虚拟现实模拟的能力。此外，该提案将为扩大协作和服务能力提供必要的资源。

DESCRIPTION (provided by the applicant): The focus of the Research Resource at the University of Rochester is to relate the neural codes of the brain to observed behavior. The key feature of neural codes is their slow timescale. The coding of behaviors has to take place within a temporal range of 10-100 milliseconds. It is now believed that computational theory must play the central role in descriptions at this level, but testing its explanatory power requires extensive experimentation. For this reason the Resource is specifically aimed at studying the brain's behaviors at these timescales. This is done using high-performance computers to simulate real-world environments in a way that allows them to be manipulated as a function of behavior. The centerpiece of the constituent laboratories is innovative instrumentation for generating visual and kinetic stimuli in conjunction with the monitoring of behavioral state. Particular emphasis is given to the visual, kinematic, proprioceptive, and haptic states used in sensori-motor coordination. The Resource includes human and animal experiments as well as extensive computer simulations. The Resource equipment is located in three laboratories: (1) A virtual reality laboratory that allows the simultaneous recording of unrestricted head, eye and hand movements while human subjects are engaged in visually-guided tasks using both real and virtual displays. (2) A visual and vestibular stimulation facility for human subjects that uses virtual displays coupled with a sled rotator device capable of delivering precise angular and linear accelerations in any combination. In addition an animal research laboratory for use with awake behaving monkeys has capabilities similar to those described above. (3) An anthropomorphic simulation laboratory that uses robotic hardware and graphics simulation software to simulate sensori-motor coordination. This facility couples an existing high-speed binocular camera control system with an anthropomorphic four-fingered hand. The current proposal would allow the continued development of state-of-the art equipment for psychophysical and neurophysiological measurements as well as improve capabilities with virtual reality simulation. In addition, the proposal would provide necessary resources for expanding the collaboration and service capabilities.