The human amygdala in social processing: circuits physiology behavior and neuromodulation.

摘要： 目前提议的目的是使私人投资能够过渡到独立研究 调查员，具有电生理分析技术的专业知识，以检测实时 情绪(情感)系统的功能。拟议的培训计划包括结构化的 指导，电生理学和生物信息学方面的实践培训，教学课程，以及 一项严谨的研究计划。拟议的实验利用了高度专业化的 实验地点：杏仁核植入深度电极的人类癫痫患者 -社会和情绪处理的中心-用于医学上的常规癫痫重点监测 难治性癫痫。在这种情况下，我们可以记录局部神经元的活动，也可以应用 为研究目的刺激电流。拟议中的培训 电生理学将使PI能够实时检查杏仁核的功能， 与她在人类神经成像和精神行为方面的现有专业知识相结合 测量，将允许对杏仁核的连接性和动力学进行全面的比较 患者具有广泛的社会处理能力。这个项目检验了这一假设 杏仁核在社交过程中起着直接和因果的作用。 在NIMH RDoC框架内，当前的提案检查了杏仁核在 社会过程的领域，包括社会交往的建构和 对他人的认知和理解的建构。我们将从 神经回路、生理和行为水平，并检查杏仁核的潜力 神经调节以增强社会处理能力。对大脑的神经回路有更深入的了解 社会处理将促进抑郁障碍的研究和治疗，并产生影响 也适用于更广泛的神经精神疾病。该项目的结果将为以下项目提供试点数据 NIMH R01申请，并赞扬申请者和导师正在进行的工作 一队。课程将包括电生理分析的教学和实践培训， 高级统计建模方面的教学培训，以申请者目前在 生物统计学和临床试验设计，以及研究伦理方面的继续培训。因此，这 获奖将使PI实现她成为一名独立的学者的目标 研究调查员，在提出研究目标的同时，评估 社会加工过程中的杏仁核。

SUMMARY: The purpose of the current proposal is to enable the PI to transition to independent research investigator, with expertise in electrophysiological analysis techniques to examine the real-time function of the emotional (affective) system. The proposed training plan includes structured mentoring, hands-on training in electrophysiology and bioinformatics, didactic coursework, and a rigorous proposed research study. The proposed experiments leverage a highly specialized experimental setting: human epilepsy patients with depth electrodes implanted in the amygdala – central to social and emotion processing – for routine seizure focus monitoring in medically refractory epilepsy. In this setting, we can record local neuronal activity as well as apply small electrical currents to stimulate for research purposes. The proposed training in electrophysiology will enable the PI to examine the real-time function of the amygdala, which, when paired with her existing expertise in human neuroimaging and psychiatric behavioral measurement, will allow a thorough comparison of amygdala connectivity and dynamics across patients with a wide range of social processing abilities. This project examines the hypothesis that the amygdala plays a direct and causal role in social processing. Within the NIMH RDoC Framework, the current proposal examines the role of the amygdala in the Domain of Social Processes, including the Construct of Social Communication and the Construct of Perception and Understanding of Others. We will examine these functions from the level of neural circuits, physiology, and behavior, and to examine the potential for amygdala neuromodulation to enhance social processing. Deeper understanding of the neural circuitry of social processing will facilitate the study and treatment of depressive disorders with implications for broader neuropsychiatric conditions as well. Results of this project will provide pilot data for an NIMH R01 application, and compliment the ongoing work of the applicant and the mentorship team. Coursework will include didactic, and hands-on training in electrophysiological analysis, didactic training in advanced statistical modeling to build upon the applicant’s current training in biostatistics and clinical trials design, and continued training in research ethics. Therefore, this award would allow the PI to accomplish her goal of becoming an independent, academic research investigator, while advancing the research objective of evaluating the causal role of the amygdala in social processing.