CENTRAL DETERMINANTS OF IMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR BY JUVENILE MONKEYS

最近对恒河猴的研究证明了一种关联 早期发育应激和降低血浆水平的措施 5-羟色胺与不良适应行为发生率增加，包括 攻击性，冲动控制力差，酒精含量增加 自治。血浆5-羟色胺之间的相似关系 而不适应行为也在人类中被描述过。这个 这些实验的目的是检验 脑内5-羟色胺水平降低与冲动症的发生 幼年恒河猴的行为模式。我们比较青少年 猴子与母亲饲养的猴子在同龄人小组中饲养，这些猴子 要么完好无损，要么已经耗尽了大脑5-羟色胺 给予神经毒性剂量的MDMA。最初的比较重点 关于结构化游戏小组中的互动，以及在一个 认知任务的计算机化电池。认知测试检查 记忆、注意力和执行功能，以及设计的任务 来评估社会认知。随后的研究将检查 中枢5-羟色胺降低与急性心肌梗死的相互作用 饮酒和过量饮酒的发生率 自由选择乙醇的自我给药 范例。在研究的最后阶段，我们将研究 脑血管加压素能神经底物在脑血管紧张素转换酶中的作用 与教养和5-羟色胺有关的行为差异。

Recent studies in rhesus monkeys have demonstrated an association of early developmental stress and decreased plasma measures of serotonin with increased incidence of maladaptive behaviors including aggression, poor impulse control and increased levels of alcohol self-administration. Similar relationships between plasma serotonin and maladaptive behaviors have also been described in humans. The objective of these experiments is to examine the potential role of reduced brain serotonin levels in the development of impulsive behavioral patterns in juvenile rhesus monkeys. We compare juvenile monkeys reared in peer groups with mother reared monkeys who are either intact or have been depleted of brain serotonin following administration of neurotoxic doses of MDMA. Initial comparisons focus on interactions in structured play groups, and performance in a computerized battery of cognitive tasks. Cognitive testing examines memory, attention, and executive function, as well as tasks designed to assess social cognition. Subsequent studies will examine the interaction of decreased central serotonin with the effects of acute alcohol administration, and the incidence of excessive alcohol self-administration in a free-choice ethanol self-administration paradigm. In the last phase of the study we will examine the potential role of brain vasopressinergic neural substrates in the behavioral differences associated with rearing and serotonin.