Cortical Circuits for Attention and Decisions

描述（由申请人提供）：我们对皮质功能的理解主要是静态和模块化的。关于哪些皮层区域表达不同类型的信息，人们已经了解了很多，但信息如何流经皮层在很大程度上仍然是猜测，从解剖学联系间接推断。考虑两个关键的认知功能：注意力和知觉决策。在模块化水平上，人们对这些功能了解很多，但这些信号从哪里产生，流向哪里，以及大脑区域如何相互作用和合作来支持它们，在很大程度上仍然是未知的。为了解决这个问题，我们将训练猴子在一项旨在参数化地改变注意力和决策因素的任务中对视觉运动和/或颜色做出判断。我们将记录同时植入额叶和视觉皮层大范围区域的多个电极的神经活动。通过比较神经活动的时间动力学，我们将测试关于认知信号如何产生并作用于不同皮层区域的本质的基本假设。一种假设是，注意力和决策相关的信号都来自前额叶皮层，并流向视觉皮层。另一种假设是，自上而下的注意力信号产生于前额叶皮层，但感知决定产生于更高层次的视觉皮层。我们还将确定自上而下的信号是否同时作用于皮层层级的不同层次，而不是从一个区域级联到下一个区域的信号。我们还将测试信号流模式和皮质区域之间的相互作用是否随任务需求而变化。验证这些假设是解决神经精神疾病的关键步骤。越来越多的证据表明，许多疾病可能是由于大脑区域之间的连接和相互作用功能障碍。这项研究将是第一次大规模测试皮层区域之间的相互作用如何支持正常大脑中两个基本和关键的认知功能。 公共卫生相关性：我们将使用多电极技术记录大脑皮层的多个区域，同时猴子会对不同的刺激特征做出决定。验证这些假设是解决神经精神疾病的关键步骤。越来越多的证据表明，许多疾病可能是由于大脑区域之间的连接和相互作用功能障碍。这项研究将是第一次大规模测试皮层区域之间的相互作用如何支持两个基本和关键的认知功能。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our understanding of cortical function is largely static and modular. A lot has been learned about which cortical areas express different types of information, but how information flows through the cortex is still largely conjecture, indirectly inferred from anatomical connections. Consider two critical cognitive functions: attention and perceptual decisions. Much is known about these functions on a modular level, but where these signals arise, where they flow, and how brain areas interact and collaborate to support them is still largely unknown. To address this, we will train monkeys to make judgments about visual motion and/or color in a task designed to parametrically vary attention and decision factors. We will record neural activity from many electrodes simultaneously implanted in a wide range of areas in the frontal and visual cortex. By comparing temporal dynamics of neural activity, we will test fundamental hypotheses about the nature of how cognitive signals arise and act on different cortical areas. One hypothesis is that both attention and decision-related signals arise from prefrontal cortex and flow to visual cortex. The alternative hypothesis is that top-down attention signals arise in the prefrontal cortex, but perception decisions arise in higher-level visual cortex. We will also determine whether top-down signals act simultaneously on different levels of the cortical hierarchy versus the signals cascading from one area to the next. We will also test whether patterns of signal flow and interactions between cortical areas change with task demands. Testing these hypotheses is critical step to addresses neuropsychiatric disorders. There is increasing evidence that many disorders may be due to dysfunction in connections and interactions between brain areas. This study would be the first large scale test of how interactions between cortical areas support two basic and critical cognitive functions in the normal brain. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: We will use multiple-electrode technology to record from multiple areas of the cortex while monkeys attend to make decisions about, different stimulus features. Testing these hypotheses is critical step to addressing neuropsychiatric disorders. There is increasing evidence that many disorders may be due to dysfunction in connections and interactions between brain areas. This study would be the first large scale test of how interactions between cortical areas support two basic and critical cognitive functions.