MODULATION OF NEURONAL RESPONSES IN SOMATOSENSORY CORTEX

描述（改编自摘要）：触觉对象识别 需要将注意力转移到连续触摸的特征上， 用于比较的感知属性的探索和短期存储 与后来的操作产生的感觉。 要理解这一点 过程中，这位主要研究者提出研究，以检查 皮质区和什么样的神经反应模式与选定的 处理被触摸对象的属性。 这些调查结果 研究可能有助于触觉假体的设计和训练 康复战略。 在这些实验中，人类和猴子必须 区分一个触觉属性的值，通常在存在 另一个属性，以获得最佳性能。 对于目标1，研究者 提出从初级躯体感觉皮层（SI）的单细胞记录， 猴子选择性地被提示去检测不同的听觉音调组合， 振幅模式和并发振动触觉振幅模式 手或手指。 对于目标#2，他建议从SI中的单细胞记录 和第二躯体感觉区（SII）的猴子选择性地提示到一个 振动刺激的两个同时呈现的触觉特征。 线索 通知猴子注意频率的变化（例如，测试刺激较高 或低于标准）或持续时间（例如，比标准长或短）。 对于目标3，研究者建议使用Positron进行神经成像研究 人类的发射断层扫描（PET）提示触觉属性。 线索通知 受试者注意频率或振动持续时间的变化，如Aim #2或直接注意表面粗糙度或表面长度的变化。 对于不同的扫描，受试者选择性地注意一个提示属性或 将注意力分散在两个属性上。 对于目标#4，研究者 提出记录猴子的SI和SII中的单个神经元， 延迟匹配任务，涉及学习配对之间的关联 触觉光栅或在视觉和触觉光栅之间。 在这场争论中， 一项研究是，记忆样本刺激是否会调节对加工的反应 或不匹配的触觉刺激，以及这些效果是否因 模式内和跨模式的信息传输。

DESCRIPTION (adapted from the Abstract): Tactile object recognition requires shifts of attention to features touched sequentially during exploration and short-term storage of perceived attributes for comparisons with the sensations produced by later manipulations. To understand this process, this Principal Investigator proposes studies to examine which cortical areas and what neural response patterns are related to selected processing of the attributes of touched objects. Findings from these studies may contribute to the design of tactile prostheses and training strategies for rehabilitation. In these experiments humans and monkeys must discriminate the value of one tactile attribute, often in the presence of another attribute, for optimal performance. For Aim #1 the Investigator proposes recording from single cells in primary somatosensory cortex (SI) in monkeys selectively cued to detect different combinations of auditory tone amplitude patterns and concurrent vibrotactile amplitude patterns on the hand or fingers. For Aim #2 he proposes recording from single cells in SI and second somatosensory area (SII) of monkeys selectively cued to one of two simultaneously presented tactile features of a vibratory stimulus. Cues inform monkeys to attend to changes in frequency (e.g., test stimulus higher or lower than standard) or duration (e.g., longer or shorter than standard). For Aim #3 the Investigator proposes a neuroimaging study using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in humans cued to tactile attributes. Cues inform subjects to attend to changes in frequency or vibration duration as in Aim #2 or to direct attention to changes in surface roughness or surface length. For different scans subjects attend selectively to one cued attribute or divide their attention between two attributes. For Aim #4 the Investigator proposes recording from single neurons in SI and SII of monkeys doing a delayed-matching task that involves learned paired-associations between tactile gratings or between visual and tactile gratings. At issue in this study is whether remembering sample stimuli modulates responses to machining or non-matching tactile stimuli and whether these effects differ for intra-modal and cross-modal information transfers.