ONTOGENY, MECHANISM, AND FUNCTION OF CYCLIC MOTOR BEHAVIOR

自发运动活动（CM）的周期性波动，周期时间为 1-5分钟，是一个稳定的方面，行为组织在第三 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的机制可能是一种 这是一个非常普遍的问题，所以理解它会有更广泛的意义。 它也提供了一个机会来测试动力系统的效用 解释行为组织的理论。 在胎羊中， 胎儿的环境可以被精确地控制， 并且可以直接和准确地测量生理变量， 这两种方法都可以在妊娠的大部分时间内持续进行。 三项研究提出，以促进我们的理解产前 CM的发展、机制和功能意义。 研究1（表征和开发）具有以下具体目标： (a)记录CM在胎羊中的存在和发展， 妊娠最后四分之一，（B）确定行为的影响， 状态，（c）确定自发子宫肌层活动的影响，以及 (d)确定增加的子宫肌层活动是否加速CM成熟。 研究2（机制）的目的如下：（a）确定CM是否本地 以及运动系统的全局特性，（B）确定是否下降 来自大脑的输入对于CM是必要的，并且如果存在多个源， (c)确定一个混沌动力系统是否可能是CM的原因， 和（d）用简单的化学传感器探测CM的性质和动力学 扰动 研究3（功能后果）的目的如下：（a）确定 CM调节对外在刺激的适应性反应，和（B）确定 如果CM影响对重复刺激的习惯化。 设计的协议 作为所有3个组成项目的一部分， 这些目标。 神经行为发育的长期缺陷构成了 对社会造成的个人、情感和经济损失。 获得的知识 这三项研究将大大增加我们对 胎儿行为的内在组织。 这一信息至关重要 用于预测胎儿的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.