The human amygdala in social processing: circuits physiology behavior and neuromodulation.

总结： 目前提案的目的是使PI能够过渡到独立研究 调查员，具有电生理分析技术的专门知识， 情感系统（Affective System）拟议的培训计划包括： 指导，电生理学和生物信息学的实践培训，教学课程，以及 一项严谨的研究计划。拟议的实验利用了一个高度专业化的 实验设置：在杏仁核中植入深度电极的人类癫痫患者 - 社会和情绪处理的中心-用于医学中的常规癫痫病灶监测 难治性癫痫在这种情况下，我们可以记录局部神经元活动以及应用小的 用于研究目的的电流刺激。拟议的培训 电生理学将使PI能够检查杏仁核的实时功能， 结合她现有的人类神经影像学和精神行为学方面的专业知识， 测量，将允许彻底比较杏仁核的连接和动态， 具有广泛社会处理能力的患者。这个项目检验了 杏仁核在社交过程中起着直接的因果作用。 在NIMH RDoC框架内，目前的建议检查了杏仁核在以下方面的作用： 社会过程的领域，包括社会交往的建构和 感知和理解他人的结构。我们将从 水平的神经回路，生理和行为，并检查杏仁核的潜力 神经调节以增强社会处理。更深入地了解神经回路， 社会处理将促进抑郁症的研究和治疗， 更广泛的神经精神疾病该项目的成果将为以下方面提供试点数据： NIMH R 01申请，并赞扬申请人和导师正在进行的工作 团队课程将包括教学，并在电生理学分析， 高级统计建模的教学培训，以申请人目前的培训为基础， 生物统计学和临床试验设计，以及研究伦理学方面的持续培训。因此本 奖项将允许PI实现她成为一个独立的，学术的目标， 研究人员，同时推进评估因果作用的研究目标， 杏仁核在社会处理中的作用

SUMMARY: The purpose of the current proposal is to enable the PI to transition to independent research investigator, with expertise in electrophysiological analysis techniques to examine the real-time function of the emotional (affective) system. The proposed training plan includes structured mentoring, hands-on training in electrophysiology and bioinformatics, didactic coursework, and a rigorous proposed research study. The proposed experiments leverage a highly specialized experimental setting: human epilepsy patients with depth electrodes implanted in the amygdala – central to social and emotion processing – for routine seizure focus monitoring in medically refractory epilepsy. In this setting, we can record local neuronal activity as well as apply small electrical currents to stimulate for research purposes. The proposed training in electrophysiology will enable the PI to examine the real-time function of the amygdala, which, when paired with her existing expertise in human neuroimaging and psychiatric behavioral measurement, will allow a thorough comparison of amygdala connectivity and dynamics across patients with a wide range of social processing abilities. This project examines the hypothesis that the amygdala plays a direct and causal role in social processing. Within the NIMH RDoC Framework, the current proposal examines the role of the amygdala in the Domain of Social Processes, including the Construct of Social Communication and the Construct of Perception and Understanding of Others. We will examine these functions from the level of neural circuits, physiology, and behavior, and to examine the potential for amygdala neuromodulation to enhance social processing. Deeper understanding of the neural circuitry of social processing will facilitate the study and treatment of depressive disorders with implications for broader neuropsychiatric conditions as well. Results of this project will provide pilot data for an NIMH R01 application, and compliment the ongoing work of the applicant and the mentorship team. Coursework will include didactic, and hands-on training in electrophysiological analysis, didactic training in advanced statistical modeling to build upon the applicant’s current training in biostatistics and clinical trials design, and continued training in research ethics. Therefore, this award would allow the PI to accomplish her goal of becoming an independent, academic research investigator, while advancing the research objective of evaluating the causal role of the amygdala in social processing.