RII Track-2 FEC: Bridging Cognitive Science and Neuroscience Using Innovative Imaging Technologies

非技术支持这一研究基础设施改进轨道-2重点EPSCoR* 协作（RII轨道-2 FEC）项目涉及南卡罗来纳州医科大学作为牵头单位，亚拉巴马大学伯明翰分校、弗曼大学和南卡罗来纳州大学博福特校区作为协作伙伴。我们对大脑功能的大部分了解来自使用功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）的实验，该实验直接测量大脑区域的血流量，但仍然是神经活动的间接测量。神经事件和血流动力学反应（血流量增加）之间的确切关系尚不清楚。这个项目将测试的假设，普遍的规则相关的这两个大脑活动，使用直接测量的大脑和视网膜的小鼠和猕猴。 技术描述该研究将开发用于解释功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）测量所需的大脑和视网膜中的体内成像和细胞亚型特异性刺激的新仪器。 这些活动将有助于确定神经血管耦合的程度，并提供微电路的描述，这是理解大脑完整复杂性的关键和必要步骤。 该联盟将以微米级分辨率跟踪神经和血管活动，使用双光子显微镜和自适应光学来测量与遗传编码传感器相互作用的合成染料的存在。 将使用光遗传学技术监测细胞亚型特异性刺激。一个计算团队将分析获得的数据，以梳理出血液动力学信号。 实验将在猕猴身上进行，选择猕猴是因为它们在大小和功能方面与人脑相似。 还将进行小鼠研究，因为遗传和分子工具更容易获得。促进竞争性研究的实验计划

Non-technical descriptionThis Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-2 Focused EPSCoR* Collaboration (RII Track-2 FEC) project involves the Medical University of South Carolina as the lead and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Furman University, and University of South Carolina, Beaufort Campus as collaborative partners. Much of our knowledge of brain function comes from experiments using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which directly measures blood flow to regions of the brain, but remains an indirect measure of neural activity. The precise relationship between neural events and hemodynamic response (increased blood flow) is unclear. This project will test the hypothesis that universal rules relate these two brain activities, using direct measurements in the brain and retina of mice and macaques. Technical DescriptionThe research will develop new instrumentation for in vivo imaging and cell subtype-specific stimulation in both the brain and the retina necessary for interpreting functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) measurements. These activities will help determine the extent of neurovascular coupling and provide a description of the micro-circuitry, which represents a critical and necessary step in understanding the full complexity of the brain. The consortium will track neural and vascular activity with micron-scale resolution, using two-photon microscopy and adaptive optics to measure the presence of synthetic dyes interacting with genetically encoded sensors. Cell subtype-specific stimulation will be monitored using optogenetic techniques. A computational team will analyze the data obtained to tease out hemodynamic signals. Experiments will be performed on macaques, selected because of the similarity in size and functional repertoire with the human brain. Studies in mice, where genetic and molecular tools are more readily available, will also be performed.*Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research