ONTOGENY, MECHANISM, AND FUNCTION OF CYCLIC MOTOR BEHAVIOR

自发性运动活动(CM)的周期波动，周期时间为 1-5分钟，是稳定方面的行为组织在第3 三个月的人类胎儿和其他物种，并可能调节 与环境的适应性互动。CM的作用机制可能是一种 非常常见的一种，这样理解它就有了更广泛的意义。 它还提供了一个测试动力系统的效用的机会 解释行为组织的理论。在胚胎绵羊体内， 胎儿的环境可以被精确地操纵和控制，行为 可以直接、准确地测量生理变量， 这两种方法都可以在妊娠的很大一部分时间内持续进行。 提出了三项研究，以增进我们对产前的理解 中药的发展、机理和功能意义。 研究1(特性和发展)有以下具体目标： (A)记录CM在胎羊体内的存在和发育情况 妊娠的最后四分之一，(B)决定行为的影响 状态，(C)确定自发肌层活动的影响，以及 (D)确定子宫肌层活动增加是否加速CM成熟。 研究2(机制)的目的如下：(A)确定CM是否是当地的 以及电机系统的全局属性，(B)确定是否下降 来自大脑的输入对于CM是必要的，如果有多个来源， (C)确定混沌动力系统是否可能对CM负责， 以及(D)用简单的化学传感方法探索CM的性质和动力学 微扰。 研究3(功能后果)的目的如下：(A)确定是否 CM调制对外部刺激的适应性反应，并且(B)确定 CM是否影响习惯化对重复刺激的影响。设计的协议 作为所有3个组成部分项目的一部分，将提供实现以下目标所需数据 这些目标。 神经行为发育的长期缺陷构成了一个主要的 给社会带来的个人、情感和经济代价。所获得的知识 这三项研究将极大地增加我们对 胎儿行为的内在组织。这些信息是必不可少的 用于预测胎儿急性和慢性变化的影响 环境对早期神经行为发育的影响。

Cyclic fluctuation in spontaneous motor activity (CM), with a cycle time of 1-5 minutes, is a stable aspect of behavioral organization in the 3rd trimester human fetus and in other species, and is likely to regulate adaptive interactions with the environment. The mechanism of CM may be a very common one, so that understanding it would have broader significance. It also provides an opportunity to test the utility of dynamical systems theory in explaining behavioral organization. In the fetal sheep, the fetal environment can be manipulated with precision and control, behavior and physiological variables can be measured directly and accurately, and both can be done continuously during a significant portion of gestation. Three studies are proposed to advance our understanding of the prenatal development, mechanism, and functional significance of CM. Study 1 (Characterization and Development) has the following specific aims: (a) document the existence and development of CM in the fetal sheep during the last quarter of gestation, (b) determine the influence of behavioral state, (c) determine the effects of spontaneous myometrial activity, and (d) determine if increased myometrial activity accelerates CM maturation. Study 2 (Mechanism) has the following aims: (a) determine if CM is a local as well as global property of the motor system, (b) determine if descending input from the brain is necessary for CM and if there are multiple sources, (c) determine if a chaotic dynamical system might be responsible for CM, and (d) probe the properties and dynamics of CM with brief chemosensory perturbations. Study 3 (Functional Consequences) has the following aims: (a) determine if CM modulates adaptive responses to extrinsic stimulation, and (b) determine if CM influences habituation to repeated stimulation. Protocols designed as part of all 3 component projects will provide the data needed to achieve these objectives. Long term defects in neurobehavioral development constitute a major personal, emotional and economic cost to society. The knowledge obtained in these three studies will significantly increase our understanding of the intrinsic organization of fetal behavior. This information is essential for predicting the effects of acute and chronic alterations of the fetal environment on early neurobehavioral development.