NEURAL MEDIATION OF CONDITIONED TASTE AVERSIONS

描述(改编自申请人的摘要)： 行为神经科学研究的是神经通路的改变如何调节 持久的行为变化与学习有关。味觉厌恶条件反射 是研究学习中涉及的神经变化的一个极好的模型 因为这种条件作用可以在一次试验中发生，尽管时间很长 条件性和非条件性刺激之间的延迟。建议进行的研究 是基于对行为的细胞关联的识别 条件性味觉厌恶的表达，也就是细胞核中的细胞 孤零零的区域。原癌基因c-fos的诱导发生在卵巢癌细胞核内的细胞内。 对一种通过条件反射而不是厌恶的味道作出反应的孤束 对条件化前的相同味道或对一种味道(奎宁)的反应 这是天生的厌恶。拟议的研究将结合这种细胞 用行为评估方法进一步评估细胞c-fos 反应及其作为学习标志的可靠性。研究还将 检查孤束核中细胞的功能重要性 在这种学习表达期间显示c-fos诱导的轨迹， 使用非对称性病变技术。此外，研究将继续进行。 定义对这种学习至关重要的前脑通路，重点是 杏仁核与孤束核之间的同侧联系 对细胞和行为都是必要的区域， 这种学习的表现形式。岛叶皮质的作用也将是 检查过了。最后，研究将确定激活的修饰的靶点 条件反射后对味觉的行为反应。通过定义神经 CTA学习中涉及的途径和细胞类型，这个项目提供了 为最终确定内部和内部的塑性变化奠定基础 在构成这种学习的细胞之间。

DESCRIPTION (adapted from applicant's abstract): A central issue in behavioral neuroscience is how alterations in neural pathways mediate the durable behavior changes involved in learning. Taste aversion conditioning is an excellent model for studying the neural changes involved in learning because this conditioning can occur in a single trial, despite lengthy delays between conditioned and unconditioned stimuli. The proposed studies are based on the identification of a cellular correlate of the behavioral expression of a conditioned taste aversion, namely, cells in the nucleus of the solitary tract. C-fos induction occurs in cells in the nucleus of the solitary tract in response to a taste made aversive by conditioning, but not in response to the same taste prior to conditioning or to a taste (quinine) which is innately aversive. Proposed studies will combine this cellular measure with behavioral assessment to further assess the cellular c-fos response and its reliability as a marker of learning. Studies will also examine the functional importance of cells in the nucleus of the solitary tract which display c-fos induction during expression of this learning, using asymmetrical lesion techniques. Additionally, studies will continue to define the forebrain pathways critical to this learning, with a focus on ipsilateral connections between the amygdala and the nucleus of the solitary tract which appear necessary for cellular, as well as behavioral, manifestations of this learning. The role of insular cortex will also be examined. Finally, studies will identify the targets of activated modified behavioral response to a taste after conditioning. By defining the neural pathways and cell types involved in CTA learning, this project provide the groundwork for eventually characterizing the plastic changes within and between cells which underlie this learning.