Computational analysis of cerebellar motor learning

描述：（来自申请人摘要）： 这个项目的长期目标是充分了解小脑 来建立一个计算机模拟来模拟它的功能。几次偶然 小脑的特征使其特别适合使用 大规模自下而上的计算机模拟这些目标 模拟是为了使我们对小脑的理解在 信息处理水平：小脑处理什么以及如何处理。的 具体目标建立在以前的工作，利用的特殊优势， 巴甫洛夫眼睑调理建立和测试生物详细和 精确的计算机模拟小脑。本项目的研究 将采取双管齐下的方法：模拟能力将 用作测试潜在机制的实证研究的基础 通过模拟预测，模拟的缺点将被用作 为进一步发展模拟打下基础。具体假设将 如何添加特定的生物特征将被追求， 弥补具体缺陷。通过这种方式，模拟允许 小脑运作机制的系统结构-功能分析 在运动学习中。使用眼睑调理作为 模拟必须完成的小脑依赖行为提供了一个 丰富的行为特性库来挑战模拟， 其模拟和实证检验之间的联系 预测很紧。这些研究的完成将提供 相对清晰地了解小脑的基本运作机制 在学习和适应运动的过程中。这应该有重要的未来 对于那些患有小脑损伤或退行性疾病的人来说， 病理学此外，越来越多的证据表明， 人类小脑参与非运动认知过程。以来 这些区域的突触组织和那些参与运动学习的突触组织 看起来没有区别，小脑必须提供相同的信息， 处理运动和认知任务。因此，拟议的研究 代表了研究小脑信息处理的能力， 相当容易控制的运动行为，然后将这些信息应用于更多的 复杂的认知过程因此，这些研究将提供一个基本的 了解电机重要方面的信息处理 系统，并可以提供基础，更深入地了解 应用于认知特性的信息处理的神经基础 也

DESCRIPTION:(from applicant's abstract): The long-term goal of this project is to understand the cerebellum well enough to build a computer simulation that emulates its function. Several fortuitous features of the cerebellum make it especially amenable to analysis using large-scale, bottom-up computer simulations. The objectives of these simulations is to make our understanding of the cerebellum expressible at the level of information processing: what the cerebellum processes and how. The specific aims build on previous work using the particular advantages of Pavlovian eyelid conditioning to build and test biologically detailed and accurate computer simulations of the cerebellum. The studies of this project will follow a two-pronged approach: capabilities of the simulations will be used as the basis for empirical studies that test underlying mechanisms predicted by the simulations, shortcomings of the simulations will be used as the basis for further development of the simulations. Specific hypotheses will be pursued as to how the addition of specific biological features will alleviate specific shortcomings. In this way the simulations permit a systematic structure-function analysis of cerebellar mechanisms that operate during motor learning. The use of eyelid conditioning as the cerebellar-dependent behavior that the simulations must accomplish provides a rich repertoire of behavioral properties to challenge the simulations and makes the connections the between the simulations and empirical tests of its predictions quite tight. The completion of these studies will provide a relatively clear picture of the basic mechanisms that operate in the cerebellum during learning and adaptation of movements. This should have important future implications for those afflicted with cerebellar damage or degenerative pathologies. In addition, mounting evidence suggests that certain parts of the human cerebellum are involved in non-motor, cognitive process. Since the synaptic organization of these regions and those involved in motor learning do not appear to differ, the cerebellum must contribute the same information processing to both motor and cognitive tasks. The proposed studies therefore represent the ability to study information processing of the cerebellum using quite tractable motor behaviors and then to apply that information to more complex cognitive processes. Thus, these studies will provide a basic understanding of information processing for important aspects of the motor system, and could provide the foundation for a deeper understanding of the neural basis of information processing that is applied to cognitive properties as well.