Frontostriatal contributions to decesion making and learning

本项目的总体目标是阐明作为决策基础的神经机制。 制作。成功的决策需要考虑一系列变量，包括 成功的可能性、回报的大小和质量以及所需的工作量 实现结果。对前额叶皮质，特别是眼眶和内侧区域造成损害 决策过程中的障碍。此外，该地区与基底有广泛的联系。 神经节，一个与动作选择和强化学习有关的区域。该项目将重点放在 描绘了这个网络的不同组成部分对决策的贡献。第一 具体目标将检查不同的区域是否负责处理不同的变量 与决策有关的问题，或者是否有一个单一领域负责整合信息。我们的第二个 《特定目的》将考察在不同的环境中进行比较的神经机制。 选择。例如，当可选结果更接近时，神经信号是如何调制的 价值？我们最终的具体目标是研究积极和消极的结果如何影响行为选择 调整额纹状体区域在决策中的参与。我们的目标是确定是否 额叶和基底节内有不同的神经元群体，用于对 正反馈和负反馈，以及识别与更普遍的学习相关的区域 对这两种反馈都做出反应的系统。使用多种方法，我们将获得收敛 解决每个目标的证据。我们将使用各种技术测量神经元信号，包括 清醒行为猴的单单位神经生理学和局部场电位(LFP)收集， 健康人的功能磁共振成像(FMRI)和皮层脑电成像(ECoG) 接受手术评估的癫痫患者。此外，我们还将进行神经心理学 对选择性额叶和纹状体损伤患者的研究以确定这些损伤的方式 神经元区域有助于在选择行为中做出成功的决策。发展研究 将进行，重点是儿童如何对不同的变量变得敏感 为后续的功能磁共振研究做好决策和铺垫。以加强双方的协同效应 在这些方法中，我们将努力使用近乎相同的行为任务。关于以下内容的基本知识 从这些研究中获得的PFC的职能组织将为 与额纹状体功能障碍相关的认知和决策缺陷。这包括 中风、创伤性脑损伤等疾病，以及帕金森氏症等退行性脑疾病 疾病和额颞部痴呆。

The overall goal of the present project is to elucidate the neuronal mechanisms that underlie decision making. Successful decision making requires consideration of a range of variables including the likelihood of success, the magnitude and quality of the payoff, and the amount of effort required to achieve the outcome. Damage to prefrontal cortex, particularly the orbital and medial regions, produces impairments in decision making. In addition, this region has extensive connections with the basal ganglia, a region implicated in action selection and reinforcement learning. The project will focus on delineating the contribution of the different components of this network to decision making. The first specific aim will examine whether different regions are responsible for processing different variables relating to decisions, or whether a single area is responsible for integrating the information. Our second specific aim will examine the neural mechanisms involved in making comparisons between different choices. For example, how are neural signals modulated when the alternative outcomes are closer in value? Our final specific aim is to examine how positive and negative outcomes to behavioral choices modulate the engagement of frontostriatal regions in decision making. We aim to determine whether there are distinct neuronal populations within the frontal lobe and basal ganglia for responding to positive and negative feedback, as well as identify regions associated with a more generalized learning system that responds to both kinds of feedback. Using multiple methodologies, we will obtain convergent evidence to address each aim. We will measure neuronal signals using a variety of techniques including single-unit neurophysiology and collection of local field potentials (LFPs) in awake, behaving monkeys, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in healthy humans, and electrocorticography (ECoG) in epileptic patients undergoing surgerical evaluation. In addition, we will conduct neuropsychological studies in patients with selective frontal and striatal damage to determine the manner in which these neuronal regions contribute to successful decision making in choice behavior. Developmental studies will be conducted, focusing on how children become sensitive to different variables that constrain decision making and setting the stage for subsequent fMRI studies. To strengthen the synergy across these methodologies, we will endeavor to use near-identical behavioral tasks. Basic knowledge about the functional organization of PFC gained from these studies will provide substantial insights into the cognitive and decision making deficits associated with the frontostriatal dysfunction. This includes disorders such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, and degenerative brain diseases such as Parkinson's Disease and frontotemporal dementia.