Circuit mechanisms of evidence accumulation during decision-making

项目总结/摘要 决策过程中证据积累的电路机制 通过逐渐积累的证据，可以很好地描述许多类型决策的行为 多个选择中的一个。知觉过程中证据积累的神经元相关性 在大脑的许多区域都观察到了决策过程。最近的工作在大鼠听觉证据 积累任务已经确定了一些大脑结构的因果关系，包括额叶皮层， 基底神经节和上级丘。这些结构彼此高度互连，表明 理解它们的相互作用对于阐明决策背后的电路机制是必要的- 制作。目前尚不清楚这些结构在决策过程中是否或如何相互作用。这 该项目将解决三个问题，涉及决策结构之间的相互作用， 制作：1）额叶定向野，啮齿类动物的前额区，和上级丘的功能 在证据收集过程中独立？2)证据的神经编码是如何在 基底神经节的输入和输出核团3）额叶定向野的神经编码 而上级丘依赖于基底神经节本项目将通过以下方式解决这些问题： 在多个脑区同时进行光遗传学扰动和电生理学记录。的 结果这个项目可能会提供详细的了解神经回路，支持渐进的 在决策过程中积累证据。

Project Summary/Abstract Circuit mechanisms underlying evidence accumulation during decision-making Behavior across many types of decision-making is well described by the gradual accumulation of evidence toward one of multiple alternatives. Neuronal correlates of the accumulation of evidence during perceptual decision-making have been observed in many areas in the brain. Recent work in a rat auditory evidence accumulation task has identified a causal role for a number of brain structures, including the frontal cortex, basal ganglia, and the superior colliculus. These structures are highly interconnected to each other, indicating that understanding their interactions is necessary for elucidating the circuit mechanisms underlying decision- making. It is not known whether or how these structures interact with each other during decision-making. This project will address three questions regarding the interactions between structures implicated in decision- making: 1) Are the frontal orienting fields, a rodent prefrontal area, and the superior colliculus functionally independent during evidence accumulation? 2) How is the neural encoding of evidence transformed between the input and output nuclei of the basal ganglia 3) Does the the neural encoding in the frontal orienting fields and the superior colliculus depend on the basal ganglia? This project will address these questions through simultaneous optogenetic perturbation and electrophysiological recording across multiple brain areas. The results this project will likely provide detailed understanding of the neural circuits that support the gradual accumulation of evidence during decision-making.