AMYGDALA-NUCLEUS ACCUMBENS ASSOCIATIVE FUNCTIONS

杏仁核和伏隔核长期以来被认为是通过强化和激励刺激来控制行为的重要结构。最近的研究表明，杏仁核（BLC）和伏隔核的基底外侧复合体是一个参与获得性刺激值信息处理的系统，它的投射强烈且单向。然而，关于该系统的功能仍然存在几个问题，包括它是否参与学习过程或仅仅是学习信息的行为表达，以及它是否对处理食欲和厌恶刺激值信息同样重要。拟议的实验将研究脑皮层和伏隔核参与这些功能的性质。具体目标1将使用食欲二阶条件反射任务（该任务允许评估刺激获得动机价值的程度），以确定BLC和伏隔核是否参与食欲刺激价值信息的学习或表现。具体目标2将使用厌恶动机的二阶条件反射任务来确定伏隔核是否参与厌恶刺激值的加工，如果参与，则以何种能力参与。特异性目标3将使用体内电生理学来研究伏隔核神经元反应中食欲和厌恶刺激值的编码方式，以及这种编码在多大程度上依赖于BLC。希望这些互补的方法能够更全面地了解这些结构如何共同作用，从而影响正常和疾病状态下的动机行为。

The amygdala and nucleus accumbens have long been recognized as structures important for the control over behavior by reinforcing and motivational stimuli. More recent work suggests that the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLC) and the accumbens, to which it projects strongly and unidirectionally, function as a system involved in the processing of acquired stimulus value information. However, several questions remain regarding the functions of this system, including whether it is involved in learning processes or simply behavioral expression of learned information, and whether it is equally important for processing of appetitive and aversive stimulus value information. The proposed experiments will investigate the nature of the involvement of the BLC and accumbens in these functions. Specific Aim 1 will use an appetitive second-order conditioning task (which allows assessment of the degree to which a stimulus has acquired motivational value), to determine whether the BLC and accumbens are involved in learning or performance of appetitive stimulus value information. Specific Aim 2 will use an aversively motivated second-order conditioning task to determine whether the accumbens is involved in processing of aversive stimulus value, and if so, in what capacity. Specific Aim 3 will use in vivo electrophysiology to investigate how appetitive and aversive stimulus value are encoded in accumbens neuronal responses, and the degree to which this encoding is dependent on the BLC. It is hoped that these complementary approaches will enable a more complete understanding of how these structures function together to influence motivated behavior in both normal and disease states.