Identifying an Error Detection Circuit used for Internally Guided Learning

摘要： 某些行为，包括言语，是在没有外部惩罚或奖励的情况下习得的。虽然神经 负责这种内部引导学习的回路仍然知之甚少，它们必须包括一个回路， 它参考内部模型评估性能，并将产生的误差信号传输到 自适应地加强行为的下游电路。本提案的目的是确定评价性 产生和传递错误信号的电路，对鸣禽内部引导的发声学习很重要。的 将要研究的一个特定回路节点是一个听觉皮层同源物，它向中脑提供直接输入 多巴胺神经元最近被证明可以自适应地增强声音表现。我假设 这同样的途径将是一个重要的球员在电路的两个离散的例子，内部评估 行为：少年模仿记忆的导师歌曲，成年人恢复原始歌曲结构， 长期暴露于扭曲的听觉反馈我将使用因果关系，闭环来测试这个假设。 光遗传学操作和相关的宽视野钙成像实验。目标的完成 在这个建议将阐明神经回路，调解必要的自我评价的一种形式， 内部引导的声音学习与人类的语音学习相似。

Abstract: Certain behaviors, including speech, are learned without external punishment or reward. Although the neural circuits responsible for such internally guided learning remain poorly understood, they must include a circuit that evaluates performance with reference to an internal model and transmits the resulting error signals to downstream circuitry that adaptively reinforces behavior. The objective of this proposal is to identify evaluative circuits that generate and transmit error signals important to internally guided vocal learning in songbirds. The specific circuit node that will be studied is an auditory cortical homologue that provides direct input to midbrain dopamine neurons that have recently been shown to adaptively reinforce vocal performance. I hypothesize that this same pathway will be an essential player in the circuits of two discrete examples of internally evaluated behavior: juvenile copying of a memorized tutor song and adult recovery of original song structure following chronic exposure to distorted auditory feedback. I will test this hypothesis using causal, closed loop optogenetic manipulations and correlative, widefield calcium imaging experiments. The completion of the aims in this proposal will shed light on the neural circuits that mediate the self-evaluation necessary for a form of internally guided vocal learning that shares parallels to human speech learning.