Equipment for investigating the neurophysiological basis of Intentional action

人类依靠行动来生存。心理学和神经科学的大多数研究都集中在对必要线索（即反应）的反应上。这导致了在缺乏命令性线索的情况下，关于有意行为是如何产生的知识的匮乏。需要澄清的是，一项行动可能是因为环境信号（例如，交通灯）暗示了它，也可能是因为个人简单地“决定”采取行动（例如，有意的行动）。许多强迫性和冲动控制障碍都伴有不能适当地抑制行为。我正在寻找一种设备，使我们能够阐明一些神经生理学机制，通过这些机制，有意行为得以产生并受到调节。具体来说，通过使用经颅磁刺激（TMS）的配对脉冲，可以研究大脑区域中调节人类行为的抑制加工。我们最近提出了一个以抑制加工为核心成分的意向行为模型，通过使用配对脉冲经颅磁刺激（在本申请中要求），我们希望测试我们的模型。我们也在申请资金购买经颅直流电刺激系统（tDCS）。该系统使研究人员能够短暂地干扰大脑中被认为与取消预期行为有关的区域的处理过程。通过短暂地干扰右额下回和额正中皮层，并测量参与者“停止”有意行为的能力（使用我们之前开发的行为范式），我们将有可能确认这些区域在取消有意行为中的作用。通过我们的实验，我们希望能够深入了解控制有意行为产生和调节的机制。除了推进我们关于大脑如何控制预期行为的基本知识外，我们的工作还可能对有意行为调节异常的个人产生未来的影响。

Humans depend on making actions for their survival. Most research in Psychology and Neuroscience has concentrated on actions made in response to imperative cues (i.e., reactions). This has led to a dearth of knowledge about how intentional actions are produced, in the absence of imperative cues. To clarify, an action can be made because an environmental signal cues it (e.g., a traffic light) or because an individual simply "decides" to act (i.e., intentional action). Many compulsive and impulse control disorders are accompanied by an inability to appropriately inhibit actions. I am seeking equipment that will enable us to elucidate some of the neurophysiological mechanisms through which intentional action emerges and is regulated. Specifically, by using paired pulses of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) it is possible to investigate inhibitory processing in the brain regions that mediate human action. We recently proposed a model of intentional action that has inhibitory processing as a core component and it is through the use of paired pulse TMS (requested in this application) that we wish to test our model. We are also requesting funds for purchase of a Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation system (tDCS). This system enables researchers to transiently disrupt processing in brain regions that are believed to be involved in the cancellation of intended actions. By transiently disrupting the right inferior frontal gyrus and the fronto-median cortex, and measuring participants' ability to "stop" an intentional action (using a behavioural paradigm we have previously developed), it will be possible to confirm the roles of these regions in the cancellation of intentional actions. Through our experiments, the hope is to gain insight into the mechanisms that govern the production and regulation of intentional actions. As well as advancing our fundamental knowledge about how the brain governs intended actions, our work could have future implications for individuals with abnormal regulation of intentional action.