Neural basis of behavior in freely moving macaques

摘要 行为及其相关的执行过程可以归类为较低级别的运动，但 也进入更高级别的状态。国家每时每刻都受到目标的控制，很可能 由特定的大脑回路实现，包括背侧前额叶皮质结构。有能力适当地 选择行为并在它们之间切换对于健康的认知功能至关重要。扰乱国家秩序 控制能力是上瘾的一个标志。了解大脑如何实现和在状态之间切换 因此为改善他们的控制提供了希望。这项建议的中心前提是理解 猕猴状态的神经控制可以帮助我们更全面地了解状态的神经控制。我们 我认为最好在自由活动的动物身上做到这一点，因为行为表达太受限制，不能 可在典型的实验室环境中解释。一个主要的障碍是难以追踪猕猴的身体位置， 这对于国家身份识别是必不可少的。我们最近已经解决了跟踪问题。使用 适合在自由移动环境中记录的电生理记录系统，我们将记录 背侧前扣带回和前额叶背外侧区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一无二的(DlPFC)或高度修饰的(dACC 秩序与行为控制密切相关，与简单的认知状态和 对人类行为的调节，并在成瘾方面明显失调。他们也有很强的 直接投射到一次和二次电机系统，使它们处于理想的驱动位置 行为，并表明他们可能与行为控制有很高的关系。然而，虽然他们 与这些过程有关，我们几乎不知道它们在神经元水平上与 行为。我们将把动物放在我们的大型笼子系统中，让它们执行觅食任务，在这个任务中，它们 自然地循环行为，然后将它们与dACC和dlPFC中的大脑活动联系起来。这将让我们 解决几个悬而未决的问题，包括这些区域在行为控制中扮演什么角色，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.