Neural basis of behavior in freely moving macaques

摘要 行为及其相关的执行过程可以分为较低层次的运动， 也进入了更高层次的国家。状态是由目标随时控制的， 由特定的大脑回路执行，包括背侧前额叶皮质结构。正确地 选择行为并在它们之间转换对健康的认知功能至关重要。破坏国家 控制是上瘾的标志了解大脑如何实现和切换状态 从而为提高其控制力提供了希望。这一建议的核心前提是， 猕猴的状态神经控制可以帮助我们更普遍地理解状态神经控制。我们 我认为这最好是在自由活动的动物身上进行，因为行为表达太受限制， 在典型的实验室环境中可解释。一个主要的障碍是很难跟踪猕猴的身体位置， 这对于状态识别是必要的。我们最近解决了跟踪问题。使用 电生理记录系统适合在自由移动的环境中记录，我们将记录 背侧前扣带皮层（dACC）和背外侧前额叶皮层（dACC）数百个神经元的反应 皮质（dlPFC）。这些皮质区域，在灵长类动物中是独特的（dlPFC）或大大修改的（dACC）， 秩序，与行为的控制密切相关，与简单的认知状态相关， 调节人类的行为，并在成瘾中显著失调。他们也有强大的， 直接投射到初级和次级电机系统，使它们处于理想的位置， 行为，并表明他们可能有一个高层次的关系与控制的行为。然而，虽然他们 与这些过程有关，我们几乎不知道它们与控制神经元水平的关系。 行为我们将把动物放在我们的大笼子里，让它们执行觅食任务， 自然地通过行为循环，然后将它们与dACC和dlPFC的大脑活动联系起来。这会让我们 解决几个悬而未决的问题，包括这些区域在行为控制中的作用，以及它们如何 相互关联。

Abstract Behavior and its associated executive processes can be categorized into lower-level movements, but also into higher-level states. States are controlled on a moment-to-moment basis by goals and likely implemented by specific brain circuits, including dorsal prefrontal cortical structures. The ability to properly select behaviors and to switch between them is critical for healthy cognitive functioning. Disruption of state control is a hallmark of addiction. Understanding how the brain implements and switches between states therefore offers the hope of improve their control. The central premise of this proposal is that understanding the neural control of states in macaques can help us understand neural control of states more generally. We believe this is best done in freely moving animals because behavioral expression is too constrained to be interpretable in typical laboratory contexts. A major barrier is the difficulty in tracking macaques’ body positions, which is essential for state identification. We have recently solved the tracking problem. Using an electrophysiological recording system amenable to recording in a freely moving environment, we will record responses of hundreds of neurons in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). These cortical regions, which are unique (dlPFC) or greatly modified (dACC) in the primate order, are strongly associated with control of behavior, are associated with simple cognitive states and with regulation of behavior in humans, and are prominently dysregulated in addiction. They also have strong and direct projections to the primary and secondary motor systems, putting them in an ideal position to drive behavior, and suggesting they may have a high-level relationship with control of behavior. However, while they are linked to these processes, we know almost nothing about their neuron-level relationship with control of behavior. We will place animals in our large cage system and have them perform a foraging task in which they naturally cycle through behaviors and then link them with brain activity in dACC and dlPFC. This will let us resolve several outstanding issues, including what role these regions have in behavioral control and how they relate to each other.