Neuronal Principles Underlying Flexible Behaviour

当面临新的选择时，记忆可以指导决定。跨事件概括和集成信息可以实现超越以往经验的快速推断。这个过程需要在大脑中对知识进行表征，以促进快速计算。有人认为，将信息存储在认知地图中——在环境中用于定位的概念的类似地图的心理表征——可能支持这种灵活的行为。然而，这些地图如何在大脑中呈现并帮助指导行为仍然知之甚少。在我的博士项目中，我的目标是对这一神经元过程的理解做出贡献。首先，我将开发一种啮齿类动物的行为范式，允许在受控环境中清晰地读出当前相关的信息集。然后，我将使用这个任务来获取大脑区域的神经元活动记录，据报道，这些区域涉及认知地图表征，并涉及清醒行为动物的决策和导航过程。更好地理解认知地图的出现和组织，以及不同大脑区域对这些过程的相对贡献，对于实现对大脑如何表示信息以及我们在面对新问题时如何做出决策的多层次理解至关重要。BBRSC研究重点领域在拟议的研究项目：脑科学和心理健康理解大脑是我们这个时代最大的智力挑战之一。这种理解对预防和治疗神经系统疾病的潜在影响使它成为一个值得接受的挑战。通过脑科学项目，研究人员正在努力了解更多关于正常大脑和感官是如何工作的，以及出了什么问题和为什么。www.bbsrc.ac.uk/research/programmes-networks/cross-councilAdvanced体内（整个动物）技术这项工作的一个主要组成部分包括开发和应用复杂的生理、免疫、药理、行为观察或整体实验。活的受保护动物（根据1986年动物（科学程序）法案的定义），以了解正常和异常的生物/心理机制。www.bbsrc.ac.uk/skills/investing-doctoral-training/strategic-skillsWUB， ENWW

When confronted with new choices, memories can guide decisions. Generalising and integrating information across events enables quick inferences that go beyond previous experience. This process requires a representation of knowledge in the brain that facilitates rapid computations. It has been suggested that storing information in cognitive maps - map-like mental representations of concepts used for orientation within an environment - might support such flexible behaviour. However, how these maps are represented in the brain and help to guide behaviour remains poorly understood. In my doctoral project, I aim to contribute to the understanding of this neuronal process. Firstly, I will develop a rodents' behavioural paradigm that allows for a clear readout of the sets of information currently relevant, in a controlled environment. Then, I will use this task to obtain recordings of neuronal activity from brain regions reported to be involved in cognitive maps representations and implicated in decision-making and navigation processes, in awake behaving animals. A better understanding of the emergence and organisation of cognitive maps, and the relative contribution of different brain regions to these processes is essential to achieving a multi-level understanding of how the brain represents information and we make decisions when confronted with new problems.BBRSC research priority areas addressed in the proposed research project:Brain Science and Mental HealthUnderstanding the brain is one of the greatest intellectual challenges of our time. The potential impact such understanding would have on preventing and treating nervous system disorders makes it a challenge worth taking on. Through the brain science programme researchers are working to understand more about how the normal brain and the senses work, as well as what goes wrong and why.www.bbsrc.ac.uk/research/programmes-networks/cross-councilAdvanced in vivo (whole animal) techniquesA major component of the work involves developing and applying sophisticated physiological, immunological, pharmacological, behavioural observation or experimentation in whole, living protected animals (as defined in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986) in order to understand normal and abnormal biological/psychological mechanisms.www.bbsrc.ac.uk/skills/investing-doctoral-training/strategic-skillsWUB, ENWW