Interactions between learning and memory systems

来自不同层次分析的大量证据表明，哺乳动物大脑的学习和记忆功能是由一组神经系统组成的，这些神经系统调节不同的记忆功能。大脑中至少有5个不同的系统，每个系统都是为学习不同类型的关系而设计的。我的研究重点是其中的三个系统(海马体、背侧纹状体和杏仁核)。来自广泛的生物和非生物领域的研究一致认为，在所有复杂系统中，一致的产出或行为源于系统各要素之间的合作和竞争。哺乳动物学习和记忆功能的组织似乎遵循同样的原则。我们关于这些学习和记忆系统的组织结构的工作假设是，尽管它们独立地处理信息，但这些系统可以合作或竞争地相互作用，以影响正在进行的或未来的行为。与这一观点一致的是，已经展示了不同学习和记忆系统之间的合作和竞争相互作用的几个例子。这项提议中描述的设备将使莱斯布里奇大学由NSERC资助的研究人员以及国内和国际合作者能够在同一任务中评估哺乳动物大脑中不同学习和记忆系统的完整性。这类研究的结果不应被低估。这些学习和记忆系统之间关系的异常现在被认为是导致在人类中发现的一系列异常行为和精神障碍的原因。因此，如果我们要了解人类行为的正常和异常表现，关于这些不同大脑系统的功能、它们如何以及何时相互作用以及支持这些功能的潜在神经生物学机制的基本科学信息是至关重要的。

A significant amount of evidence from different levels of analysis suggests that learning and memory function in the mammalian brain is organized into a group of neural systems mediating different memory functions. There are at least 5 different systems in the brain, each of which is designed for learning about different types of relationships. My research has focused on three of these systems (hippocampus, dorsal striatum, and amygdala). Research, from a wide range of biological and non-biological fields are in agreement that in all complex systems, coherent outputs or behaviour arise from cooperation and competition among the various elements of the system. The organization of learning and memory function in the mammal appears to follow the same principles. Our working hypothesis about the organization of these learning and memory systems is that although they process information independently the systems can interact cooperatively or competitively to influence ongoing or future behaviour. Consistent with this view, several demonstrations of both cooperative and competitive interactions between various learning and memory systems have been shown. The equipment described in this proposal will enable NSERC-funded researchers at the University of Lethbridge and national and international collaborators the ability to assess the integrity of different learning and memory systems in the mammalian brain on the same task. The outcomes of this kind of research should not be underestimated. Abnormalities in the relationships between these learning and memory systems are now thought to be responsible for a wide range of abnormal behaviour and psychiatric disorders found in humans. Accordingly, basic scientific information about the functions of these various brain systems, how and when they interact with each other, and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms supporting these functions is critical if we are to understand normal and abnormal manifestations of behaviour in humans.