INFORMATION PROCESSING IN LAMINATED NEURONAL NETWORKS

我们打算继续我们对感官信息处理和 电鱼简单行为反应的控制。我们已经选择了 作为探索基础神经元的模型系统的电感觉 设计特征似乎也涉及到更复杂的感觉 哺乳动物的听觉和视觉等系统。特别感兴趣的 是层状神经元中刺激空间的有序表示 沿特定轴映射特定刺激变量的网络 平面的分层和处理不同方面的刺激 位于不同层的专门神经元的复杂性。通过 通过一个又一个更高级的中枢神经站 刺激处理，我们打算达到电机输出水平，从而 为控制简单的行为提供完整的神经元理论 回应。对于本征曼尼亚的干扰避免响应，这个目标是 现在触手可及。 这项建议集中在三个项目上： 1.多维空间中传入信息表征的意义 地图，如相同的初级电感觉传入的投影 到后脑中三个独立的、按躯体拓扑顺序排列的地图。这 研究涉及细胞内记录和标记所有可用的 细胞类型以研究其在不同刺激机制下的动态特性 以及它们的解剖结构。三张地图之间的差异 应该为他们的功能专业化提供线索。 2.中脑递减递减递增输入的意义 小脑到后脑的所有三个电感觉图。其影响 小病变对已识别细胞类型的动态特性的影响 至于整个动物的反应，将进行研究。 3.髓质电器官起搏器的组织。虽然 不是严格的层状结构，这个原子核由两个松散的 隔离型电耦合、有节奏的放电电池 它控制着电子琴。调查极端情况的原因 对其节律的稳定性，将对其进行生理实验 保留在切片室中的切除起搏器上的完整准备 以及在组织培养中生长的起搏细胞上。这些研究将涉及 耦合细胞和解剖的双重细胞内记录和标记 对他们的关系进行调查。

We intend to continue our studies on sensory information processing and the control of simple behavioral responses in electric fish. We have chosen the electric sense as a model system for the exploration of basic neuronal design features which also appear to be involved in more complex sensory systems, such as audition and vision in mammals. Of particular interest are ordered representations of stimulus spaces in laminated neuronal networks which map certain stimulus variables along particular axes within the plane of lamination and process different aspects of the stimulus complexity by specialized neurons located in different layers. By advancing through successively higher-order central nervous stations of stimulus processing, we intend to reach the motor output level and thus to provide a complete neuronal theory for the control of a simple behavioral response. For the Jamming Avoidance Response in Eigenmannia, this goal is now within reach. This proposal focuses upon three projects: 1. The significance of representations of afferent information in multiple maps, such as the projections of identical primary electrosensory afferents to three separate, somatotopically ordered maps in the hindbrain. This research involves intracellular recording and labelling of all available cell types to study their dynamic properties under various stimulus regimes and their anatomical architecture. Differences between the three maps should yield clues for their functional specialization. 2. The significance of descending recurrent input from midbrain and cerebellum to all three electrosensory maps in the hindbrain. The effects of small lesions upon dynamic properties of identified cell types as well as upon responses of the whole animal will be studied. 3. The organization of the medullary electric organ pacemaker. Although not a strictly laminated structure, this nucleus consists of two loosely segregated types of electrically coupled, rhythmically discharging cells which control the electric organ. To investigate causes for the extreme stability of its rhythm, physiological experiments will be conducted on intact preparations, on excised pacemakers maintained in a slice chamber and on pacemaker cells grown in tissue culture. These studies will involve dual intracellular recording and labelling of coupled cells and anatomical investigation of their connections.