Characterization of Hippocampal Neural Activity in Evidence Accumulation and Decision-Making

海马神经活动的证据表征 积累与决策 项目摘要/摘要 在不断变化的环境中，收集和评估证据的能力对于优化 决策。海马体被认为是认知图谱的体现，并已在 导航和觅食任务。然而，目前尚不清楚海马体在有证据表明 决策必须随着时间的推移而积累。我们将使用钙成像来测量神经活动 在带有噪声视觉线索的虚拟T形迷宫中同时导航的小鼠的数百个CA1神经元 在迷宫的尽头做出正确决定(左转或右转)的动物。我们的首要目标将是建立一个 这项任务中CA1神经活动的综合模型可以解释 证据和地点，可能与其他感知和行为变量相结合。前景看好的初步 证据表明，CA1神经元编码的空间信息受证据数量的调节 已经收到了。除了单个细胞的活动外，证据还表明CA1神经元可以 在同一环境中组织成多个序列。我们的第二个目标是评估 CA1群体活动的顺序性质持有个体神经元活动以外的任务相关信息。 我们的第三个目标是研究这些序列的生物物理基础以及它们的形成 是CA1中种群活动的因果结果。为了实现这些目标，我们将利用啮齿动物 虚拟现实行为，多维分析工具，考察大型协同活动 除了结合细胞分辨的光发生激活/抑制外，神经元群体 同时进行双光子钙成像。总而言之，这些实验将为 在以前没有研究过的背景下，海马体。除了对基础科学研究的重要意义之外， 了解证据积累和决策背后的神经过程也很重要 对诸如强迫症等精神和神经疾病的管理的影响 精神障碍、上瘾或注意力缺陷多动障碍，这些功能被打乱。

Characterization of Hippocampal Neural Activity in Evidence Accumulation and Decision-Making Project Summary/Abstract In an ever-changing environment, the ability to accumulate and evaluate evidence is crucial for optimal decision-making. The hippocampus is thought to embody a cognitive map and has been well-studied in navigation and foraging tasks. However, it is unknown how the hippocampus behaves when evidence for decision-making must be accumulated over time. We will use calcium imaging to measure neural activity from hundreds of CA1 neurons simultaneously in mice navigating a virtual T-maze with noisy visual cues that inform the animal of the correct decision (left or right turn) at the end of the maze. Our first aim will be to build a comprehensive model of CA1 neural activity during this task that can account for the primary variables of evidence and place, possibly multiplexed with other perceptual and behavioral variables. Promising preliminary evidence suggests that CA1 neurons encode spatial information that is modulated by the amount of evidence that has been received. In addition to single cell activity, evidence also suggests that CA1 neurons can organize into multiple sequences in the same environment. Our second aim is to evaluate whether the sequential nature of CA1 population activity holds task-relevant information beyond individual neuron activity. Our third aim is to investigate the biophysical underpinnings of these sequences and whether their formation takes place as a causal result of population activity in the CA1. To achieve these goals, we will utilize rodent virtual reality behavior, multidimensional analysis tools to investigate the coordinated activity of large populations of neurons, in addition to combining cellular-resolution optogenetic activation/inhibition simultaneously with 2-photon calcium imaging. Together, these experiments will establish a role for the hippocampus in a previously unstudied context. Beyond the significance for basic science research, understanding the neural processes behind evidence accumulation and decision-making also has important implications in the management of psychiatric and neurological disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, addiction, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, in which these functions are disrupted.