Understanding the effects of experimental brain injury to extinction of active avoidance

项目摘要(出自家长资助R21 NS119991) 我们的目标是解决我们面临的一个新的挑战，即脑损伤对 神经功能和心理健康。脑损伤的一大类是弥漫性损伤(例如 (脑震荡)用重物落在头上实验造成的闭合性头部损伤。 脑震荡发生时头部受到冲击，外加角加速度，可能导致 轴突损伤，扰乱大脑各区域之间的交流和活动，可能影响 通过损害情绪调节而导致的心理健康。情绪调节的两种重要形式 是消退和避免奖赏刺激。消光是曝光治疗的基础 治疗恐惧和焦虑症。避免触发恐惧记忆的情况是一个标志 许多精神健康障碍的患者。脑损伤患者表现出过度回避，因此 减少获得奖励，这不利于经济复苏。要评估潜力， 脑损伤和回避之间的关系，生物联系必须用 可靠的损伤模型和行为测试。啮齿动物的大脑中有相应的区域 人类用来躲避。回避需要杏仁内侧核之间的相互作用 前额叶皮质和腹侧纹状体。总体而言，这项工作将回答一系列关键问题 关于脑损伤对灭绝和回避的影响。此外，这项工作还将增加 关于这一重要主题的科学和公共卫生证据的基础。

Project Summary (from parent grant R21 NS119991) Our goal is to address an emerging challenge that we face with the effects of brain injury to neurological function and mental health. A broad class of brain damage is diffuse injury (e.g. concussion) produced experimentally using a closed head injury by weight drop onto the head. Concussion occurs with an impact to the head plus angular acceleration which may result in axonal damage that disrupts communication and activity between brain regions, likely affecting mental health by impairing emotional regulation. Two important forms of emotional regulation are extinction and avoidance of rewarding stimuli. Extinction is the basis of exposure treatment for fear and anxiety disorders. Avoidance of situations that trigger fear memories is a hallmark of many mental health disorders. Patients with brain injury display excess avoidance, thus reducing the attainment of rewards, which is detrimental to recovery. To evaluate the potential relationship between brain injury and avoidance, a biological link must be examined using reliable injury models and behavioral tests. There are homologous brain regions in rodents and humans for avoidance. Avoidance requires interactions between the amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex, and ventral striatum. Overall, this work will answer a series of key questions about the impact of brain injury to extinction and avoidance. Moreover, this work will increase the base of scientific and public health evidence on this important subject.