ETHANOL EFFECTS:CORTICAL CIRCUITS IN SENSORY PROCESSING

这项研究解决了定义神经回路的必要性 乙醇扰乱高阶选择性感觉的机制 在大脑皮层的初级和关联区进行加工。 作为这种加工的神经生理学模型，PI具有 描述了躯体感觉中的几种感觉调节 大鼠的大脑皮质。这些包括：1)抑制感觉“门控” 与前肢运动同步发生，2)感觉易化 发生在觉醒中，以及3)感觉易化发生在 注意力和预期行为。所有这些现象都将是 使用PI开发的一种技术进行调查 通过阵列实现多个单个神经元的同时记录 长期植入精确位置的微丝电极 大脑皮质和丘脑。主要目的将是测试效果。 乙醇在正常电路上的相互作用 录音。此外，此类录音的长期稳定性将 允许在时间进程中记录相同的神经元 乙醇的慢性化和戒断，以及过度服用 其他滥用药物。最后，遗传模型(如P-NP大鼠) 将会被使用。

This investigation addresses the need to define the neural circuit mechanisms by which ethanol disrupts higher-order selective sensory processing in primary and associative areas of the cerebral cortex. As neurophysiological models for such processing, the PI has described several types of sensory modulation in the somatosensory cortex of rats. These include: 1) inhibitory sensory "gating" occurring in phase with forelimb movement, 2) sensory facilitation occurring in arousal, and 3) sensory facilitation occurring in attention and anticipation behaviors. All these phenomena will be investigated using a technique the PI has developed for simultaneous recording from multiple single neurons through arrays of microwire electrodes chronically implanted in precise locations the cortex and thalamus. The major aim will be to test the effects of ethanol on normal circuit interactions exhibited in these recordings. Also, the long term stability of such recordings will allow the same neurons to be recorded over the time course of ethanol chronicity and withdrawal, and over administrations of other drugs of abuse. Finally, genetic models (such as P-NP rats) will be used.