Amygdala-Cerebellum Interactions During Associative Learning

 描述(申请人提供)：记忆缺陷被发现与许多神经系统疾病，记忆系统之间的相互作用的崩溃可能特别虚弱。不同的记忆系统通常结合在一起并相互作用，以影响日常行为。传统上，杏仁核和小脑分别被视为不同类型记忆、情绪记忆和运动记忆的重要参与者。这些存储系统被认为在很大程度上是独立的。然而，最近的证据表明，杏仁核有助于小脑学习。我们的初步数据表明，大鼠杏仁核的可逆性失活严重损害了小脑学习的一种--眨眼条件反射的获得和保持。此外，杏仁核的失活可逆地损害了小脑中与学习相关的神经元活动的发展。这项建议旨在澄清 杏仁核和小脑之间相互作用的潜在机制。目的1是通过杏仁核的可逆失活和小脑多电极神经元记录，确定杏仁核在眨眼条件反射过程中如何影响小脑功能。目的2是利用杏仁核的可逆失活、轴突追踪、脑电刺激和多电极神经元记录，确定杏仁核是否通过条件性刺激输入通路与小脑相互作用。目的3是通过杏仁核蛋白质合成抑制和NMDA受体阻断以及桥核多电极神经元记录，确定杏仁核记忆巩固是否是促进小脑学习所必需的。该项目将对杏仁核和小脑的相互作用进行前所未有的分析。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Memory deficits are found with many neurological disorders and the breakdown of interactions between memory systems can be particularly debilitating. Different memory systems typically combine and interact to influence everyday behavior. The amygdala and cerebellum have traditionally been viewed as essential players in different types of memory, emotional and motor memory, respectively. These memory systems have been viewed as largely independent. However, recent evidence suggests that the amygdala facilitates cerebellar learning. Our preliminary data indicate that reversible inactivatio of the amygdala in rats severely impairs acquisition and retention of eyeblink conditioning, a type of cerebellar learning. Moreover, amygdala inactivation reversibly impairs the development of learning-related neuronal activity in the cerebellum. This proposal is designed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying interactions between the amygdala and cerebellum. Aim 1 is to determine how the amygdala influences cerebellar function during eyeblink conditioning using reversible inactivation of the amygdala and multi-electrode neuronal recording in the cerebellum. Aim 2 is to determine whether or not the amygdala interacts with the cerebellum through the conditioned stimulus input pathway to the cerebellum using reversible inactivation of the amygdala, axonal tracing, electrical brain stimulation, and multi-electrode neuronal recording. Aim 3 is to determine whether or not amygdala memory consolidation is necessary for facilitating cerebellar learning using protein synthesis inhibition and NMDA receptor blockade in the amygdala and multi-electrode neuronal recording in the pontine nucleus. This project would provide an unprecedented analysis of amygdala-cerebellum interactions.