A unique mushroom body extrinsic neuron, the PE1, and mechanisms of its role in associative learning and memory formation

学习会导致神经网络的变化。这些变化应该可以追溯到单个神经元的可塑性。为了了解学习到的信息和不同的记忆阶段是如何影响神经网络的生理特性的，在变化的实验条件下，对不同动物的同一可识别神经元进行重复记录是有利的。这在蜜蜂的中枢神经系统中是可能的。唯一的花梗-外在神经元编号1(PE1)接受蘑菇体内部的输入，蘑菇体是参与感觉处理、联想学习和记忆存储的高级整合中心。在以前的工作中，PE1对习得的气味或在电刺激Kenyon细胞(PE1的上游神经元)后显示出联想可塑性。我们将使用PE1系统地研究2嗅觉学习过程中联想可塑性的细胞和网络特性。我们将记录PE1的细胞内和细胞外，这可以被识别，因为它的位置和独特的尖峰行为，同时应用不同的条件范式。学习和记忆巩固的神经关联将在分子、细胞和网络层面上进行监测。为此，我们将询问在学习和记忆巩固过程中观察到的变化是否是PE1的固有属性和/或上游神经元的属性。为了回答这个问题，我们将选择性地刺激突触前神经元(Kenyon细胞)，并在细胞内或细胞外记录PE1，同时进行药理学和生理学干预。这些方法将使我们能够在单个神经元和网络水平上揭示记忆形成的过程，这可能是联想学习和记忆形成的基础。此外，我们将从PE1开始进行细胞外记录，以表征与整合相关的系统。

Learning leads to changes in neuronal networks. These changes should be traceable to the plasticity of single neurons. To understanding, how learned information and different memory stages influence the physiological properties of neural nets, it is advantageous to record repeatedly from the same identifiable neuron in different animals under changing experimental conditions. This is possible in the honeybee’s central nervous system. The unique pedunculus-extrinsic neuron number 1 (PE1) receives input inside the mushroom body, a higher-order integration center that is involved in sensory processing, associative learning and memory storage. In previous works PE1 showed associative plasticity to learned odors or after electrical stimulation of Kenyon cells (upstream neurons of PE1). We will use the PE1 to investigate systematically the 2cellular and network properties underlying associative plasticity during olfactory learning. We will record intra- and extracellularly from PE1, which can be identified due to its location and unique spiking behavior, while applying different conditioning paradigms. Neural correlates of learning and memory consolidation will be monitored on the molecular, cellular and network level. To this end we shall ask whether the changes observed in the course of learning and memory consolidation are an intrinsic property of PE1 and/or a property of upstream neurons. To answer this question, we will selectively stimulate the presynaptic neurons (Kenyon cells) and record intra- or extracellularly from PE1, while interfering pharmacologically and physiologically. These approaches will allow us to reveal the processes of memory formation at the single neuron and network level that potentially underlie associative learning and memory formation. Furthermore, we shall record extracellularly from PE1 to characterize systems related consolidation.