Top-Down Modulation & Neural Networks in Cognitive Aging

描述(由申请人提供)：本提案的总体目标是支持候选人发展进行功能性磁共振成像(FMRI)和事件相关电位记录(ERP)以研究自上而下调制和神经网络在衰老过程中的变化所需的技能，以及他作为一名独立内科科学家的持续发展。研究培训部分包括在指导下发展认知实验设计、获得和处理功能磁共振成像和企业资源规划数据、多变量统计分析、成像数据-行为相关性以及将老年参与者介绍到功能磁共振成像和企业资源规划环境中的技能。这项资助的目标是确定共同的神经机制，这些机制的损伤是一系列与年龄相关的认知缺陷的基础。为了实现这一点，实验将专注于自上而下的调制，这是一个形成记忆和注意力的关键基础的过程。功能磁共振成像和事件相关电位都将用于平衡研究，旨在有选择地操纵和监测年轻和老年受试者自上而下调制的不同方面。FMRI的高空间分辨率和事件相关电位的高时间分辨率为探索这一过程的性质和机制及其在衰老中的潜在变化提供了补充数据。老年组将根据独立的神经心理测试被细分为不同的表现组，以便于对老化结果进行有意义的解释。最近开发的一种多变量方法将被应用于研究服从自上而下调制的神经网络中与年龄相关的变化。加州大学伯克利分校提供了完美的培训环境，因为它拥有一个多学科的研究小组，致力于先进的fMRI和ERP技术，以及许多对正常衰老研究感兴趣和有经验的研究人员。拟议的研究和培训计划将为候选人提供高度专业化的培训，并促进独立认知神经科学研究计划的发展，该计划将补充他作为认知神经学家的角色。这一培训还将有助于支持候选人的长期目标，即成为大规模神经网络和认知神经科学的简化论方法之间的桥梁。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The broad objective of this proposal is to support the candidate's development of skills necessary to perform functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and event-related potential recordings (ERP) to investigate alterations in top-down modulation and neural networks in aging, as well as his continued development as an independent physician-scientist. The research training component includes the mentored development of skills in cognitive experimental design, attaining and processing fMRI and ERP data, multivariate statistical analysis, imaging data - behavioral correlations and the introduction of older participants into the fMRI and ERP environment. The goal of this grant is to identify common neural mechanisms whose impairments underlie a range of age-related cognitive deficits. To accomplish this, experiments will focus on top-down modulation, a process that forms a critical foundation for memory and attention. Both fMRI and ERP will be utilized in counterbalanced studies designed to selectively manipulate and monitor different aspects of top-down modulation in younger and older subjects. The superb spatial resolution of fMRI and high temporal resolution of ERP provide complimentary data to explore the nature and mechanism of this process and its potential alteration in aging. The older age group will be subdivided into different performance groups based on independent neuropsychological testing to facilitate meaningful interpretation of aging findings. A recently developed multivariate method will be applied to investigate age-related changes in neural networks subserving top-down modulation. The University of California at Berkeley provides the perfect training environment as it has a multidisciplinary group of researchers working on advanced fMRI and ERP techniques, as well as many researchers with interest and experience in normal aging research. The proposed research and training plan will provide highly specialized training for the candidate and facilitate the development of an independent cognitive neuroscience research program that will compliment his role as a cognitive neurologist. This training will also serve to support the candidate in his long-term goals of becoming a bridge between large-scale neural network and reductionist approaches to cognitive neuroscience.