FUNCTIONAL MRI OF MOTIVATION IN NONHUMAN PRIMATES

非人类灵长类动物动机的功能 MRI

• 批准号: 6040874
• 负责人: Craig F Ferris
• 金额: $ 38.06万
• 依托单位: UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2000
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2000-02-01 至 2003-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6040874
• 关键词: Callithricidae; behavior test; brain electrical activity; brain imaging /visualization /scanning; dopamine receptor; ethology; functional magnetic resonance imaging; motivation; neural information processing; odors; olfactions; sex behavior

The odors of an unfamiliar receptive female will evoke sexual motivation in the male common marmoset characterized by non contact penile erection. This odor-induced, psychogenic behavior provides a unique opportunity to study brain activity associated with sexual motivation in a nonhuman primate. With the advent of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) it is now possible to use a noninvasive approach for observing brain activity without injury or sacrifice of the animal. Recently, a small animal holding device was developed for performing fMRI on a fully awake male marmoset, acclimated to the imaging procedure. During MR imaging, a male marmoset can be sexually motivated by the odors of an unfamiliar receptive female without any other visual, auditory or somatosensory stimulation. These studies will use fMRI to examine the temporal activation and neuropharmacology of the neural networks involved in sexual motivation in the marmoset. It is hypothesized that smelling odors of an unfamiliar receptive female will increase neural activity in brain areas involved in sexual motivation. To test this hypothesis, changes in brain activity in male marmosets will be visualized with fMRI during exposure to odors of receptive females. During brain imaging, animals will be treated with dopamine receptor agonists and antagonists to examine the central effects of drug intervention on sexual motivation and endocrine responses. Using fMRI on conscious marmosets, it will be possible to study the neurobiology of affiliation, fear, and aggression triggered by relevant sensory cues and how experience can alter brain activity. Indeed, the long-term goal of this research is to understand the neurobiology contributing to sexual violence. Throughout the animal kingdom there are many examples of heightened male sexual motivation rapidly reverting to intense aggression, oftentimes violent, lethal behavior during competition for a receptive female. We hypothesize that sexual and aggressive motivations share a common neurobiology that contribute to the escalation and expression of sexually violent behavior. These studies are the first step in identifying that common neurobiology in a non human primate. There are no effective psychosocial intervention strategies or drug treatments to help violent sex offenders. This is an extremely important area of mental health that impacts on public safety and criminal corrections.

陌生的雌性狨猴的气味会激发雄性狨猴的性动机，其特征是非接触性阴茎勃起。 这种由气味引起的心因性行为为研究非人类灵长类动物与性动机相关的大脑活动提供了独特的机会。 随着功能磁共振成像（fMRI）的出现，现在可以使用非侵入性方法来观察大脑活动，而无需伤害或牺牲动物。 最近，开发了一种小型动物固定装置，用于对完全清醒的雄性狨猴进行功能磁共振成像，以适应成像过程。在核磁共振成像过程中，雄性狨猴可以通过不熟悉的雌性狨猴的气味来产生性冲动，而无需任何其他视觉、听觉或体感刺激。这些研究将使用功能磁共振成像来检查与狨猴性动机有关的神经网络的时间激活和神经药理学。 据推测，闻到陌生女性的气味会增加涉及性动机的大脑区域的神经活动。 为了验证这一假设，雄性狨猴在接触雌性狨猴的气味时，可以通过功能磁共振成像来观察其大脑活动的变化。 在脑成像过程中，动物将接受多巴胺受体激动剂和拮抗剂治疗，以检查药物干预对性动机和内分泌反应的中心影响。对有意识的狨猴使用功能磁共振成像，将有可能研究由相关感官线索引发的归属感、恐惧和攻击性的神经生物学，以及经验如何改变大脑活动。 事实上，这项研究的长期目标是了解导致性暴力的神经生物学。在整个动物王国中，有许多这样的例子：雄性性动机增强后，在争夺接受性的雌性时，会迅速恢复为强烈的攻击性，通常是暴力、致命的行为。 我们假设性动机和攻击性动机具有共同的神经生物学特征，导致性暴力行为的升级和表现。 这些研究是确定非人类灵长类动物中常见神经生物学的第一步。 没有有效的心理社会干预策略或药物治疗来帮助暴力性犯罪者。 这是心理健康的一个极其重要的领域，影响公共安全和刑事惩戒。