Williams Syndrome: Bridging Cognition, Brain and Genes

描述（由申请人提供）：该计划项目的总体目标是建立跨学科的桥梁，使用特定的遗传疾病，威廉姆斯综合征（WS）将高级认知功能与其潜在的神经生物学基础及其分子遗传基础联系起来。 为了实现这一目标，该计划将认知，电生理，结构和功能成像，组织学与分子遗传学方法相结合，以研究WS患者的群体。WS能力的高峰和低谷的发现，包括在视觉空间处理，面部处理和语言的某些方面的相对优势，还有过度社交 这种独特的配置文件使WS的大脑和行为关系的研究，并映射到基因组的宝贵范例。 方案项目： 项目二，神经生理成像表征WS大脑在感觉和认知过程中的电生理特征。 项目三：功能神经影像学，使用多方面的成像技术（高场结构，功能和扩散张量成像），以确定参与WS认知的神经通路。 项目四. 分子和细胞架构，探讨组织学和基因表达差异与WS的认知概况相关的脑区。项目一：神经认知表征，将研究认知处理机制和映射认知变异的神经通路和基因表达的变化来源。 每个项目的研究都使用综合方法进行交互式工作，以测试与大脑发育中的背腹和后/前梯度相关的假设，以及边缘系统通路中与认知和行为相关的变化。总之，这些研究为阐明特定基因、神经系统和认知功能之间的通路提供了新的机会。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overarching goal of this program project is to build bridges across disciplines, linking higher cognitive functions to their underlying neurobiological bases and their molecular genetic underpinnings using a specific genetic disorder, Williams syndrome (WS). To accomplish this goal, the program combines cognitive, electrophysiological, structural and functional imaging, histological, with molecular genetic approaches to study groups of individuals with WS. The findings of peaks and valleys of abilities in WS, including mild to moderate mental retardation in the context of a specific deficit in visuospatial processing, relative strengths in face processing and certain aspects of language, in addition to hypersociability. This unique profile makes WS an invaluable paradigm for the study of brain and behavior relationships, and for mapping to the genome. Program project: Project II, Neurophysiological Imaging characterizes the electrophysiological signature of the WS brain during sensory and cognitive processing. Project III: Functional Neuroimaging, uses multifaceted imaging techniques (high field-structural, functional, and diffusion tensor imaging) to identify neural pathways involved in WS cognition. Project IV. Molecular and Cellular Architectonics, explores histological and gene expression differences within brain areas associated with the cognitive profile of WS. Project I: Neurocognitive Characterization, will examine cognitive processing mechanisms and map sources of cognitive variability to neural pathways and variations in genetic expression. Studies from each project work interactively using integrated approaches to test hypotheses related to dorsoventral and posterior/anterior gradients in brain development, as well as changes within limbic system pathways as they relate to cognition and behavior. Together, these studies provide new opportunities for illuminating pathways among specific genes, neural systems, and cognitive functions.