State-dependent vestibular response and neural processing

描述（由申请人提供）：以前的研究表明，感觉运动处理取决于它发生的行为背景。特别是，在运动过程中保持注视和姿势稳定性的前庭反应以优化性能的方式由上下文调制。虽然前庭反应的适应性已经受到广泛关注，但对特定环境前庭反应的神经机制还没有很好的理解。我建议研究上下文特定的前庭处理的鸽子，动物的离散和相关的上下文（飞行）可以在实验室中模拟。为了研究环境对前庭处理的影响，我提出了两个具体的目标：（1）确定模拟飞行环境对前庭头部和身体稳定性反应的影响，以旋转运动;（2）描述模拟飞行对脑干前庭核神经反应的影响。我将比较前庭脊髓反应与动物在休息和气流诱发的飞行姿势。我将使用这些行为结果来告知我在前庭核中的电生理记录，其中我将记录单个单位前庭反应的上下文相关变化。为了了解背景处理的损伤如何导致人类的姿势不稳定和相关疾病，我们需要更好地了解前庭反应的背景依赖性调制的神经基质。我建议使用动物模型来研究神经机制优化前庭反应的离散和有意义的背景。这项研究将使我们深入了解环境在哪里以及如何对前庭系统产生影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Previous studies have demonstrated that sensorimotor processing depends on the behavioral context in which it occurs. In particular, vestibular responses that maintain gaze and posture stability during motion are modulated by context in ways that optimize performance. Although adaptation of vestibular responses has received extensive attention, the neural mechanisms for context-specific vestibular responses are not well understood. I propose to study context-specific vestibular processing in the pigeon, an animal for which a discrete and relevant context (flight) can be simulated in the laboratory. To investigate the effect of context on vestibular processing, I propose two specific aims: (1) To determine the effect of simulated flight context on vestibular head and body stabilization responses to rotational motion; (2) To characterize the effect of simulated flight on neural responses to rotational motion in the brainstem vestibular nuclei. I will compare vestibulospinal responses with the animal at rest and in airflow-evoked flight posture. I will use these behavioral results to inform my electrophysiological recordings in the vestibular nuclei, wherein I will document context-dependent changes in single-unit vestibular responses. In order to understand how impairments in contextual processing may contribute to postural instability and related disorders in humans, we need to have a better understanding of the neural substrates underlying context-dependent modulation of vestibular responses. I propose to use an animal model to study the neural mechanisms for optimization of vestibular responses to a discrete and meaningful context. This study will give us insights into where and how context exerts its effects on the vestibular system.