Neural Basis of Behavioral Flexibility

项目摘要 在一些物种中观察到网络功能的“退化”。在这种情况下，一 运动活动的特定模式由一组以上的细胞和突触特性编码。 一个普遍感兴趣的问题是：这如何影响网络功能？建议的实验 本申请将在“任务”切换的上下文中研究多任务网络中的简并性，即， 一种运动程序的停止和另一种运动程序的开始。我们将测试一本小说 一种假设，假定“任务”转换的能力是由 用于模式化活动的机制。特别是，我们认为这很可能是 在通常观察到的情况下，即，在调节性神经递质发挥作用的情况下， 在神经活动中起着重要的作用。调节性递质的作用通常持续存在， 从而形成一种内隐记忆我们认为，这种内隐记忆既可以阻碍， 促进任务转换。更具体地说，我们的实验是在一个实验性的 有利的网络，介导喂养相关的行为。我们的实验利用了 相当多的初步数据表明，运动活动的排泄模式可以诱导， 该网络至少以两种方式，即，它们被编码为两组不同的细胞和突触 特性.建议的实验将确定是否是这种情况，并将对比过渡 与两种类型的消化结构的关系。我们建议，在一种情况下， 网络将能够相对快速地改变运动程序的性质，而在另一个网络中， 情况不会。我们将在实验中确定为什么会出现这种情况， 在电路和细胞/分子水平上的机制。交换机在网络活动中很重要 大多数物种的生存。在人类中，与任务转换相关的成本可以显著增加， 影响性能。然而，促进或阻碍任务的细胞和分子机制 没有描述切换。据我们所知，我们是唯一一个在一个温顺的工作组。 在细胞/分子水平上研究这种现象的模型系统。

Project Summary `Degeneracy' in network function has been observed in a number of species. In these situations one particular pattern of motor activity is encoded by more than one set of cellular and synaptic properties. A question of general interest is: how does this impact network function? Experiments proposed in this application will study degeneracy in a multi-tasking network in the context of `task' switching, i.e., the cessation of one type of motor program and the initiation of another. We will test a novel hypothesis that postulates that the ability to `task' switch is determined by the nature of the mechanisms that are used to pattern activity. In particular, we suggest that this is likely to be the case in a commonly observed situation, i.e., in the situation where modulatory neurotransmitters play an important role in configuring neural activity. Effects of modulatory transmitters generally persist, which creates a form of implicit memory. We suggest that this implicit memory can either impede or promote task switching. In more specific terms, our experiments are conducted in an experimentally advantageous network that mediates feeding related behaviors. Our experiments take advantage of considerable preliminary data that indicate that egestive patterns of motor activity can be induced in this network in at least two ways, i.e., they are encoded as two distinct sets of cellular and synaptic properties. Proposed experiments will determine whether this is the case, and will contrast transitions to ingestive activity from the two types of egestive configurations. We suggest that in one situation the network will be able to change the nature of the motor program relatively quickly, whereas in the other situation it will not. We will determine why this is the case in experiments that will analyze underlying mechanisms at both the circuit and cellular/molecular level. Switches in network activity are important for the survival of most species. In humans, costs associated with task switching can significantly impact performance. Nevertheless cellular and molecular mechanisms that facilitate or impede task switching have not been described. To our knowledge we are the only group working in a tractable model system that is studying this phenomenon at a cellular/molecular level.