Mammalian Models in Neuroethology

神经行为学中的哺乳动物模型

• 批准号: 0844743
• 负责人: Kenneth Catania
• 金额: $ 72.03万
• 依托单位: Vanderbilt University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-02-01 至 2015-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0844743&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Mammalian; Models; Neuroethology

Some of the most important advances in the understanding of nervous system function have been made by exploring animal species with particularly well-developed senses and behaviors. For example, much of the understanding of neuron function is based on studies of the giant axon of the squid. In the current project, the neurobiology and behavior of the star-nosed mole will be investigated with the goal of revealing general principles of nervous system organization, function, and plasticity. Star-nosed moles have an exceptional sense of touch, including mechanosensory organs that are used to make rapid discriminations based on nearly microscopic textures. This species provides a model for exploring the mammalian sense of touch, including simulation of mechanoreceptor function and investigation of parallel processing of touch information in the neocortex. Because the neocortex is a hallmark of the mammalian nervous system and is especially large in humans, there is a particular interest in understanding the basic organization across species and how it evolved. These studies are also valuable for teaching because the animals are unique and interesting to students and the public. The questions that must be addressed will take the investigators and students through a journey of discovery that ranges from the animal in its natural environment at one extreme to the anatomy and physiology of single cells at the other extreme. The investigations will include many different training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students. These include studies of neuroanatomy and electrophysiology in a laboratory setting and studies of behavior and ecology in the field.

理解神经系统功能的一些最重要的进步是通过探索具有特别发达的感官和行为的动物物种来实现的。 例如，对神经元功能的许多理解都是基于对鱿鱼巨型轴突的研究。 在当前的项目中，将研究星条痣的神经生物学和行为，目的是揭示神经系统组织，功能和可塑性的一般原则。 星鼻痣具有特殊的触摸感，包括用于基于几乎微小纹理的快速区分的机械感觉器官。 该物种提供了一个用于探索哺乳动物接触感的模型，包括模拟机械感受器功能以及对新皮层中触摸信息的平行处理。 由于新皮层是哺乳动物神经系统的标志，并且在人类中特别大，因此人们对了解跨物种的基本组织及其进化有特别的兴趣。 这些研究对于教学也很有价值，因为这些动物对学生和公众都是独特而有趣的。必须解决的问题将带领调查人员和学生进行一次发现的旅程，从一个极端的自然环境中的动物到另一个极端的单个细胞的解剖结构和生理学。 调查将包括许多不同的研究生和本科生的培训机会。 其中包括在实验室环境中对神经解剖学和电生理学的研究以及该领域的行为和生态学研究。