Effects of spatial attention on neuronal circuits in the early visual system

为该奖项提出的研究将研究空间注意力如何调节大脑皮层回路活动， 早期的视觉系统拟议的研究将候选人的科学背景和未来的职业联系起来 目的通过检查在多个处理阶段的神经元活动的注意调制。注意力 将在个体细胞水平（目标1）、局部回路水平（目标2）和皮层水平观察到效应。 人口一级（目标1和3）。通过采用这种新颖的方法来理解注意力， 在细胞和电路处理的背景下，候选人将利用她的所有阶段的经验， 研究生涯。候选人即将完成辅导阶段， 她的两位共同赞助商提供了出色的指导，并从以下资源中受益匪浅 加州大学戴维斯分校。根据目标1中列出的实验计划，候选人必须 成功地测量了注意力调节的突触功效和皮质整体活动。的 候选人已成功地实施了注意力任务和多神经元记录的改进 这些技术将极大地帮助她作为一名独立调查员的过渡和未来的成功。期间 在独立阶段，候选人将继续解决早期视觉功能动力学的问题， 使用这些改进的空间注意任务和多电极记录技术的皮层电路。这些 实验将进一步探索1）空间注意的影响是否以及如何在神经元细胞中存在差异 类型和局部回路水平，以及2）正在进行的皮层网络活动是否以及如何影响这些 注意力效应。所有的实验都是在早期的视觉系统中进行的 猴子是一个理想的模型，原因有很多。首先，虽然空间注意影响早期视觉系统， 活动，很少有人知道有关的机制。第二，有丰富的知识可用 关于灵长类视觉系统。第三，清醒行为动物范式允许评估 在完全认知状态下的功能。第四，也是最重要的，灵长类动物的视觉系统与 这为人类的认知提供了一个理想的模型。

The research proposed for this award will examine how spatial attention modulates cortical circuit activity in the early visual system. The proposed studies link the candidate's scientific background and future career objectives by examining attentional modulation of neuronal activity at multiple processing stages. Attentional effects will be observed at the individual cellular level (Aim 1), the local circuit level (Aim 2), and the cortical population level (Aims 1 and 3). By employing this novel approach toward understanding attention within the context of cellular and circuit processing, the candidate will draw upon experience across all phases of her research career. The candidate is nearing completion of the mentored phase where she has received outstanding mentorship from her two co-sponsors and has greatly benefited from the resources available at the University of California, Davis. According to the experimental plan laid out in Aim 1, the candidate has successfully measured attentional modulation of synaptic efficacy and cortical ensemble activity. The candidate has successfully implemented improvements in the attentional task and multi-neuron recording techniques which will greatly aid her transition and future success as an independent investigator. During the independent phase, the candidate will continue to address questions of functional dynamics in early visual cortical circuits using these improved spatial attention tasks and multi-electrode recording techniques. These experiments will further explore 1) whether and how the effects of spatial attention differ across neuronal cell types and local circuit levels, and 2) whether and how ongoing cortical network activity influences these attentional effects. All experiments proposed will be undertaken in the early visual system of awake-behaving monkeys, an ideal model for a number of reasons. First, while spatial attention influences early visual system activity, little is known about the mechanisms involved. Second, there is a wealth of knowledge available about the primate visual system. Third, the awake-behaving animal paradigm allows for the assessment of functionality in the fully cognizant state. Fourth, and most importantly, the primate visual system is similar to that of humans and therefore provides an ideal model for human cognition.