Understanding the effects of experimental brain injury to extinction of active avoidance

项目摘要（来自母基金R21 NS119991） 我们的目标是解决我们面临的一个新的挑战，即脑损伤的影响， 神经功能和心理健康。脑损伤的一大类是弥漫性损伤（例如， 脑震荡）是通过重物坠落到头部造成闭合性头部损伤的实验产生的。 脑震荡发生时头部受到撞击，加上角加速度， 轴突损伤破坏大脑区域之间的交流和活动，可能影响 通过损害情绪调节来影响心理健康。情绪调节的两种重要形式 是对奖励性刺激的回避和消失。灭绝是暴露治疗的基础 治疗恐惧和焦虑症避免触发恐惧记忆的情况是一个标志 许多精神疾病。脑损伤患者表现出过度回避， 减少奖励的获得，这不利于恢复。以评估潜在的 脑损伤和回避之间的关系，生物学联系必须使用 可靠的损伤模型和行为测试。在啮齿类动物中有同源的脑区， 人类为了躲避回避需要杏仁核、内侧核、 前额叶皮层和腹侧纹状体总的来说，这项工作将回答一系列关键问题 关于脑损伤对灭绝和逃避的影响。此外，这项工作将增加 科学和公共卫生证据的基础。

Project Summary (from parent grant R21 NS119991) Our goal is to address an emerging challenge that we face with the effects of brain injury to neurological function and mental health. A broad class of brain damage is diffuse injury (e.g. concussion) produced experimentally using a closed head injury by weight drop onto the head. Concussion occurs with an impact to the head plus angular acceleration which may result in axonal damage that disrupts communication and activity between brain regions, likely affecting mental health by impairing emotional regulation. Two important forms of emotional regulation are extinction and avoidance of rewarding stimuli. Extinction is the basis of exposure treatment for fear and anxiety disorders. Avoidance of situations that trigger fear memories is a hallmark of many mental health disorders. Patients with brain injury display excess avoidance, thus reducing the attainment of rewards, which is detrimental to recovery. To evaluate the potential relationship between brain injury and avoidance, a biological link must be examined using reliable injury models and behavioral tests. There are homologous brain regions in rodents and humans for avoidance. Avoidance requires interactions between the amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex, and ventral striatum. Overall, this work will answer a series of key questions about the impact of brain injury to extinction and avoidance. Moreover, this work will increase the base of scientific and public health evidence on this important subject.