Dopaminergic Control of the Explore-Exploit Tradeoff via Spiny Projection Neurons in the Striatum

项目摘要 为了有效地做出决定，个人必须利用他们的经验来平衡选择， 已知的、积极的结果（利用）和选择，对替代品进行抽样，以更好地估计比较结果。 当前选择的值（探索）。改变这些基本状态的监管可能是核心， 在神经精神障碍如自闭症、强迫症、 抽动秽语综合征和成瘾为了研究控制平衡的神经机制 在这两种状态之间，我们为小鼠生成了新的3-选择任务。我们将联合收割机 行为与尖端的病毒，遗传和成像工具，以探讨如何多巴胺，神经调质， 与神经精神疾病有很长的关联史，调节探索性和 剥削行为状态此外，我们将进行单光子在体钙成像的棘状突起 纹状体中的神经元亚型，已知纹状体是一个控制决策的大脑区域， 各种神经心理障碍这个项目建立在一个突出的假设之上， 纹状体活动的多巴胺能调节通过传递决定的价值来控制动作选择。的 这个建议的目的是为我提供尖端实验技术的培训，如单光子 钙成像、病毒遗传技术、决策的动力学模型和计算数据 分析.这些技术将使我能够凭经验测试多巴胺和纹状体神经元活动是如何组织的 在探索和剥削行为状态下的决策。The Fuccillo Lab at the University of明尼苏达大学 宾夕法尼亚州已经展示了进行优秀研究和提供一流培训的能力 这使它非常适合这项提议。此外，拟议的工作将大大受益于所有 宾夕法尼亚大学为研究人员提供的设施和资源。

Project Summary In order to effectively make decisions, individuals must use their experiences to balance choices that have a known, positive outcome (exploitation) and choices that sample alternatives to better estimate the comparative value of the current selection (exploration). Altered regulation of these fundamental states may be central to executive function deficits apparent in neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism, obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette’s syndrome and addiction. In order to study the neural mechanisms governing the balance between these two states, we generated novel 3-alternative choice task for mice. We will combine this operant behavior with cutting-edge viral, genetic and imaging tools to probe how dopamine, a neuromodulator that has a long history of association with neuropsychiatric disorders, regulates the expression of exploratory and exploitative behavioral states. In addition, we will perform 1-photon in vivo calcium imaging of spiny projection neuron subtypes in the striatum, a brain area known to govern decision-making and similarly associated with various neuropsychological disorders. This project builds off of a prominent hypothesis that suggests dopaminergic modulation of striatal activity governs action selection by conveying the value of decisions. The goal of this proposal is to provide me with training in cutting-edge experimental techniques such as 1-photon calcium imaging, viral-genetic technologies, dynamical models of decision-making, and computational data analysis. These techniques will allow me empirically test how dopamine and striatal neuron activity organize decision-making during exploratory and exploitative behavioral states. The Fuccillo Lab at the University of Pennsylvania has already demonstrated the ability to produce excellent research and provide premier training to its members, making it a great fit for this proposal. In addition, the proposed work will benefit greatly from all of the facilities and resources made available to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania.