Cholinergic and dopaminergic influence on the prefrontal cortex

与认知功能和行为有关的主要结构是前额皮质（PFC），位于我们大脑的前部。这个区域的神经元负责接收来自大脑感觉区域和记忆结构的所有信息，并通过向大脑的执行区域发送神经元流来精心设计响应。神经元通过神经化学物质交流，如多巴胺（DA）和乙酰胆碱（ACh），它们在调节PFC活动和认知功能（如注意力和工作记忆）中发挥积极作用。我们最近研究了PFC内这些神经元系统的互联性。目前的研究项目旨在分析这两种神经递质和PFC神经元之间的空间相互作用，PFC神经元与大脑其他区域进行交流，以组织对外部刺激的反应。用共聚焦显微镜定量测定ACh或DA激活神经元的数量、类型和位置。使用不同的药物抑制或激发多巴胺或乙酰胆碱系统，我们将估计这些神经化学物质在PFC神经元活动中的具体贡献。在第二步中，我们将测量在不同激活条件下PFC中它们的浓度。这些研究将有助于表征神经元网络的相互作用，更好地理解认知和行为的神经生物学机制。这将有助于开发药理学策略，以减轻认知功能障碍，导致思维缺陷和退出社会活动。

The chief structure involved in cognitive functions and behavior is the prefrontal cortex (PFC), located in the front of our brain. Neurons of this region are in charge of receiving all the information from the sensory brain areas and memory strutures and elaborate a response by sending neuronal influxes to executive zones of the brain. Neurons communicate together thanks to neurochemicals, like dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (ACh) which play an active role in the modulation of PFC activity and cognitive function like attention and working memory. We have recently examined these neuronal system interconnectivity within the PFC. The present research program pursuits this analysis of the spatial interaction between these two neurotransmitters and the neurons from the PFC that communicate with other brain regions to organize a response to external stimulations. The number, type and location of the neurons activated by ACh or DA will be quantified by confocal microscopy. Using different drugs that suppress or excite dopamine or acetylcholine systems, we will estimate the specific contribution of these neurochemicals in the PFC neuronal activity. In a second step we will measure their concentration in the PFC during different activation conditions. These studies will allow to characterized neurons networks interaction and better understand the neurobiological mechanisms of cognition and behavior. This will help to develop pharmacological strategies to alleviate cognitive dysfunction which results in deficient thinking and withdrawal from social activity.