Exploring the Neural Correlates of Object Percepts in the Head-Restrained Mouse

 描述（由申请人提供）：这个为期两年的项目的长期目标是开发用于探索头部受限小鼠中的须依赖性物体识别和感知决策的方法。物体识别和感知决策是高阶认知能力，传统上在人类（使用功能性MRI）和头部受限的猴子（使用细胞外记录）中进行了研究。我们的目标是开发实验程序来解决小鼠中的类似问题，对于这些问题，有强大的遗传，分子和成像工具在灵长类动物中不可用。我们将扩展Svoboda实验室开发的Go-NoGo任务，用于测试头部受限小鼠的对象定位，并开发单间隔强制选择任务，其中小鼠将使用其胡须区分两个典型对象（例如立方体和球体），并通过将轨迹球转向目标来发出其决定的信号。 向左或向右。然后，我们将使用由斯沃博达实验室开发的透明头骨技术来照亮特定的皮质区域，从而确定表演所需的区域。 任务。这一实验系统将使后续研究得以进行，这些研究将使国家的 用于对高级认知过程如物体识别和感知决策以及潜在的学习和记忆过程进行电生理记录、钙成像和光遗传学刺激的现有技术方法。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term objective of this two-year project is to develop the methodology for exploring whisker-dependent object recognition and perceptual decision in head- restrained mice. Object recognition and perceptual decision are higher-order cognitive abilities that have traditionally been studied in humans (with functional MRI) and in head- restrained monkeys (with extracellular recordings). Our goal is to develop experimental procedures to address similar questions in mice, for which there are powerful genetic, molecular and imaging tools not available in primates. We will expand upon the Go- NoGo task developed in the Svoboda lab for testing object localization in head- restrained mice, and develop a single-interval forced-choice task in which the mouse will use its whiskers to discriminate between two canonical objects (e.g. a cube and a sphere), and signal its decision by turning a trackball to the left or to the right. We will then use the clear-skull technique developed by the Svoboda lab to inactivate by light specific cortical areas, and thereby identify the areas required for performing the task. This experimental system will enable follow-up studies which will bring to bear state-of- the-art methods for electrophysiological recordings, calcium imaging and optogenetic stimulation on higher cognitive processes such as object recognition and perceptual decision, as well as the underlying learning and memory processes.