SOMATOSENSORY CORTEX IN THE EXPRESSION OF AFFECTIVE SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中的一个 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金， 因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为 研究中心，而研究中心不一定是研究者的研究机构。 目的：通过追踪躯体感觉信息从身体表面到与处理社会行为互动所必需的触觉信息有关的神经元区域的传输，了解社会行为的神经生物学。 这种寻求接触和形成强烈的积极关系的倾向在南美洲的提提猴身上得到了极端的体现。 在自然界和实验室中，这些一夫一妻制的灵长类动物每天有90%的时间与家庭中的其他成员进行身体接触。动物并排坐着，侧面与另一只猴子密切接触。提提猴之间的接触也包括主动接触，如梳理或抓取。titi猴社会交往的一个独特方面是缠绕尾巴。很多时候，一个家庭群体的所有成员（3-5个人）坐在一排，联合收割机在一个单一的尾巴。 利用多单位电生理记录，本研究探讨了参与社会接触的几个躯体感觉皮层区域的作用。这项研究包括两个步骤：第一个步骤是在个体动物中绘制躯体感觉信息从体表流向新皮层区域的地图，这些区域利用躯体感觉信息来调节社会行为。这一阶段的研究依赖于麻醉猴子的电生理记录。为了评价皮质区域参与社会行为的程度，将进行局灶性病变，并评价病变对社会动机和社会认知的影响。这些研究的独特之处在于，它们利用直接由躯体感觉系统介导的显性行为来研究皮层机制的作用。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Objective: To understand the neurobiology of social behavior by tracing transmission of somatosensory information from the body surface to neuronal regions concerned with processing tactile information essential for social behavior interactions. The propensity to seek contact and to form strong positive relationships is exemplified in the extreme by the South American titi monkey. In nature and in the laboratory, these monogamous primates spend up to 90% of their day in physical contact with other members of their family group. Animals sit side-by-side with their lateral surface in close contact with another monkey. Contact between titi monkeys also includes active contact, such as grooming or grasping. A unique aspect of social contact in titi monkeys is tail-twining. Very often all members of a family group (3-5 individuals) sit in a row and combine their tails in a single twine. Using multiunit electrophysiological recording this research examines the role of several somatosensory cortical areas involved in social contact. The research involves two steps: The first is to map, in individual animals, the flow of somatosensory information from the body surface to regions of the neocortex that utilize somatosensory information in regulation of social behavior. This phase of the research relies on electophysiological recording in anesthetized monkeys. To evaluate the extent to which cortical regions are involved in social behavior, focal lesions will be performed and the effects of the lesion on social motivation and social cognition will be evaluated. These studies are unique in that they take advantage of an overt behavior, directly mediated by the somatosensory system, to examine the role of cortical mechanisms.