Analysis of the functional anatomy involved in the learning of the visual discrimination task in macaque monkeys.

在猴子身上，在解决了数百个独特的视觉辨别问题后，它们会根据学习集的形成非常迅速地解决一个新的问题，学习集的形成被定义为学习如何学习问题。为了评估视觉辨别任务在学习集形成前后的学习过程中起关键作用的功能解剖学，我们用[^&lt；15&gt；O]-H_2O对猕猴(Macaca Mulatta)进行了PET研究。在第一次经历任务时(IND)和在解决数十个独特问题的经历(经验新颖的歧视，完)之后进行PET扫描。SPM统计分析显示，IND组的眼眶前额叶、视觉、躯体感觉、运动皮质、小脑和部分皮质下结构显著激活，而END组激活的是背外侧前额叶皮质和视皮质，包括高阶区，而不是躯体感觉和运动相关区域。背外侧前额叶皮质和高级视区的招募可能与猕猴视觉辨别学习的学习集形成有关。

In monkeys, after the experience of solving hundreds of unique problems of visual discrimination, they become to solve a novel problem very quickly according to the learning-set formation that is defined as learning how to learn the problem. To assess the functional anatomy that is critically involved in learning process of visual discrimination task before and after the learning-set formation, we performed PET study using[^<15>O]-H_2O in monkeys (macaca mulatta).PET images were acquired while monkeys are solving a novel problem of visual discrimination with two geometrical patterns. PET scans were performed at the first experience of the task (an inexperienced novel discrimination, IND), and after the experience of solving several tens of unique problems (an experienced novel discrimination, END). The simple visuomotor task was also conducted as a control.The statistical analysis by SPM revealed that the orbitofrontal, visual, somatosensory, and motor cortices, cerebellum and some subcortical structures were significantly activated in IND, while the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and visual cortices including higher order areas but not the somatosensory and motor related areas were activated in END.These results indicate that neuronal circuits for the visual discrimination learning dramatically changed depending on their accumulated experience. Recruitments of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and higher order visual areas could be associated with the learning-set formation for the visual discrimination learning in monkeys.