Custom crossmodal operant chambers for rodent in vivo electrophysiology and electrochemistry

胆碱能基底前脑投射系统是一个上行神经调节系统，它向皮层区域提供神经化学物质乙酰胆碱，支持认知和知觉。因此，胆碱能基底前脑具有对信息处理产生广泛影响的能力。体内和体外非人类动物实验证据表明，乙酰胆碱通过胆碱能基底前脑传入，在处理传入信息时，具有神经调节能力，可提高皮层活动的信噪比（SNR）。我们假设乙酰胆碱可能是注意力的神经化学基础。选择性注意的认知机制使处理相关刺激的同时最大限度地减少不相关刺激的干扰或分心。与乙酰胆碱类似，选择性注意被认为可以增加行为相关信息的信噪比。本研究项目的总体概念目标是了解大脑灵活和动态地增强相关（信号）处理和减少无关（噪声）处理能力的神经化学基础，这两者都有助于优化目标导向行为。所要求的定制跨模式操作室将允许我们检查这一指导性假设。我们在实验室里建立了一个原型，产生了可发表的数据。我们的啮齿动物，在要求的房间里，能够获得复杂的认知任务，即跨模态的五选择连续反应时间任务和波斯纳线索检测任务。这使我们能够将人类的认知范式转化为啮齿类动物，也将使我们能够完成我目前获得的NSERC发现奖（2011-2015）资助的研究。

The cholinergic basal forebrain projection system is an ascending neuromodulatory system that provides the neurochemical acetylcholine to cortical regions supporting cognition and perception. Thus, the cholinergic basal forebrain has the capacity to exert widespread influences on information processing. In vivo and in vitro nonhuman animal evidence have demonstrated that acetylcholine, via cholinergic basal forebrain afferents, acts in a neuromodulatory capacity to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of cortical activity when processing incoming information. We hypothesize that acetylcholine may be the neurochemical underpinnings of attention. The cognitive mechanism of selective attention enables the processing of relevant stimuli while minimizing interference or distraction from irrelevant stimuli. Similar to acetylcholine, selective attention is thought to increase SNR for behaviourally-relevant information. The overarching conceptual goal of this research program is to appreciate the neurochemistry underlying the brain's capacity to flexibly and dynamically enhance processing of the relevant (signal) and reduce processing of the irrelevant (noise), both of which contribute to optimization of goal-directed behaviour. The requested custom crossmodal operant chambers will allow us examine this guiding hypothesis. We built a prototype in the lab that has produced publishable data. Our rodents, in the requested chambers, are able to acquire complex cognitive tasks, i.e., a crossmodal five-choice serial reaction time task and Posner's cue detection task. This allows us to translate human cognitive paradigms to the rodents and will also allow us to complete the studies funded in my current NSERC Discovery award (2011-2015).