Limbic & Motor System Interaction in Laryngeal Function

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究的长期目标是更好地表征高级神经系统连接到涉及言语和吞咽的脑干结构的作用。有待检验的假设是，疑核与边缘系统的两个主要区域（前扣带皮层和杏仁核）之间存在相互作用，在痉挛性发声障碍中发挥作用。此外，我们假设这两个领域的差异作用于疑核：前扣带系统是兴奋性的，并对自愿行为的行为，而杏仁核系统是抑制性的，并通过调节脑干反射发挥其作用。为了验证这一假设，我们提出了以下具体目标：1）确定从疑核到杏仁核和前扣带皮层的详细神经解剖学联系; 2）确定相互作用发生的水平; 3）确定参与相互作用的神经递质受体。每一个目标都建立在另一个目标之上，因为第一个目标建立了联系，第二个目标建立了联系的组织，第三个目标描述了联系对其目标的影响。猴子和大鼠系统都将被研究，以利用大脑和脑干组织中与进化相关的物种差异。这项研究的意义在于，一旦表征，这些通路可以通过功能成像研究进行进一步研究，用于新的医疗和手术治疗，以及用于生理模型的开发。它将促进更好地理解语言是如何在皮层水平获得和产生的，语音障碍，如痉挛性发声障碍，局灶性肌张力障碍，以及脑损伤后的语言恢复。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term goal of this research is to better characterize the role of higher-level nervous system connections to brainstem structures involved in speech and in swallowing. The hypothesis to be tested is that there exists an interaction that plays a role in spasmodic dysphonia between the nucleus ambiguus and two major areas of the limbic system, the anterior cingulate cortex and amygdala. Furthermore, we hypothesize these two areas act differentially upon the nucleus ambiguus: the anterior cingulate system is excitatory and acts upon voluntary behaviors, while the amygdalar system is inhibitory and exerts its effect by modulating brainstem reflexes. To test this hypothesis, we propose the following specific aims: 1) to determine the detailed neuroanatomic connection from the nucleus ambiguus to the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex; 2) to determine the level at which the interaction occurs; and 3) to determine the neurotransmitter receptors involved in the interaction. Each aim builds upon the other, in that the first aim establishes the connection, the second establishes the organization of the connection, and the third characterizes the effect of the connection on its target. Both the monkey and the rat systems will be studied to exploit evolutionary related species differences in brain and brainstem organization. The significance of this research is that, once characterized, these pathways can be targeted for further study with functional imaging studies, for novel medical and surgical therapies, and for the development of physiologic models. It will promote a better understanding of how speech is acquired and generated at the cortical level, of voice disorders such as spasmodic dysphonia, of the focal dystonias, and of speech recovery after brain injury.