Neural Basis of Behavioral Flexibility

项目摘要 在许多物种中观察到了网络功能的“退化”。在这些情况下，一个 运动活动的特定模式由不止一组细胞和突触属性编码。 一个普遍感兴趣的问题是：这对网络功能有何影响？建议进行的实验 本应用程序将研究“任务”切换环境下多任务网络中的退化，即， 一种运动程序的终止和另一种运动程序的启动。我们将测试一部小说 假设‘任务’转换的能力是由任务的性质决定的 用于形成活动模式的机制。特别是，我们认为这很可能是 在通常观察到的情况下，即在调制神经递质发挥作用的情况下 在配置神经活动方面起着重要作用。调制发射机的影响通常持续存在， 这创造了一种形式的内隐记忆。我们认为这种内隐记忆可以阻碍或 推动任务切换。更具体地说，我们的实验是在一个实验中进行的 调解与进食有关的行为的有利网络。我们的实验利用了 相当多的初步数据表明，运动活动的排卵模式可以在 这个网络至少有两种方式，即它们被编码为两组不同的细胞和突触 属性。拟议中的实验将确定是否是这种情况，并将对比过渡 从两种类型的排卵构型到摄食活动。我们建议在一种情况下 网络将能够相对快速地改变运动程序的性质，而在另一种情况下 情况是不会的。我们将在实验中确定为什么会出现这种情况，并将分析潜在的 在电路和细胞/分子水平上的机制。网络活动中的交换机非常重要 为了大多数物种的生存。在人类中，与任务切换相关的成本可能会显著 影响性能。然而，促进或阻碍任务的细胞和分子机制 还没有描述切换。据我们所知，我们是唯一一个在 在细胞/分子水平上研究这一现象的模型系统。

Project Summary `Degeneracy' in network function has been observed in a number of species. In these situations one particular pattern of motor activity is encoded by more than one set of cellular and synaptic properties. A question of general interest is: how does this impact network function? Experiments proposed in this application will study degeneracy in a multi-tasking network in the context of `task' switching, i.e., the cessation of one type of motor program and the initiation of another. We will test a novel hypothesis that postulates that the ability to `task' switch is determined by the nature of the mechanisms that are used to pattern activity. In particular, we suggest that this is likely to be the case in a commonly observed situation, i.e., in the situation where modulatory neurotransmitters play an important role in configuring neural activity. Effects of modulatory transmitters generally persist, which creates a form of implicit memory. We suggest that this implicit memory can either impede or promote task switching. In more specific terms, our experiments are conducted in an experimentally advantageous network that mediates feeding related behaviors. Our experiments take advantage of considerable preliminary data that indicate that egestive patterns of motor activity can be induced in this network in at least two ways, i.e., they are encoded as two distinct sets of cellular and synaptic properties. Proposed experiments will determine whether this is the case, and will contrast transitions to ingestive activity from the two types of egestive configurations. We suggest that in one situation the network will be able to change the nature of the motor program relatively quickly, whereas in the other situation it will not. We will determine why this is the case in experiments that will analyze underlying mechanisms at both the circuit and cellular/molecular level. Switches in network activity are important for the survival of most species. In humans, costs associated with task switching can significantly impact performance. Nevertheless cellular and molecular mechanisms that facilitate or impede task switching have not been described. To our knowledge we are the only group working in a tractable model system that is studying this phenomenon at a cellular/molecular level.