Noradrenergic mechanisms in attention and response inhibition

注意力和反应抑制中的去甲肾上腺素能机制

• 批准号: G0700980/1
• 负责人: Emma Robinson
• 金额: $ 32.43万
• 依托单位: University of Bristol
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2008 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=G0700980%2F1
• 关键词: Noradrenergic; mechanisms; attention; response; inhibition

Neuroscience research is one of the priority areas identified by the Government and leading health organisations. Recognition of the clinical need for new advances in therapeutic approaches to these diseases is particularly highlighted by statistics revealing an increase in the prevalence of psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. The focus of this research project is to investigate the biology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a prevalent and debilitating condition in children and adults. ADHD is responsible for significant social and economic costs to society and, although treatments are available, very little is known or understood about how or why they work. To address some of these issues, we can turn to animal models to enable us to dissect the specific brain mechanism that mediate the symptoms and treatment of this disorder. Animals provide a powerful method to study basic brain function and the methods we will use provide an excellent parallel with studies that are carried out in people. Using our animal models we will measure behaviours such as impulsivity, when an action is made that is not properly considered and has negative consequences, and inattention. The experiments will test how current treatments for ADHD act within the brain and isolate which brain areas and chemical processes are involved. The results that we obtained will help us to design future experiments to further refine our understanding of how the brain functions to control behaviour. Importantly, because our models relate closely to psychology test used in humans, we will be able to directly relate our results to the clinical situation. My research is closely linked with human disease and overall this project will identify new ways to alter brain function and improve the treatment of psychiatric conditions such as ADHD.

神经科学研究是政府和领先卫生组织确定的优先领域之一。统计数据显示精神疾病和神经退行性疾病患病率的增加特别强调了对这些疾病治疗方法新进展的临床需求的认识。该研究项目的重点是研究注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）的生物学，这是一种在儿童和成人中普遍存在且使人衰弱的疾病。 ADHD 给社会带来了巨大的社会和经济成本，尽管有治疗方法，但人们对它们如何或为何起作用却知之甚少。为了解决其中一些问题，我们可以求助于动物模型，使我们能够剖析介导这种疾病的症状和治疗的特定大脑机制。动物提供了一种强大的方法来研究基本的大脑功能，我们将使用的方法与在人类身上进行的研究提供了极好的相似之处。使用我们的动物模型，我们将测量诸如冲动（当采取的行动没有经过适当考虑并产生负面后果时的冲动）和注意力不集中等行为。这些实验将测试目前治疗多动症的疗法如何在大脑中发挥作用，并隔离涉及哪些大脑区域和化学过程。我们获得的结果将帮助我们设计未来的实验，以进一步加深我们对大脑如何控制行为的理解。重要的是，由于我们的模型与人类使用的心理学测试密切相关，因此我们将能够直接将我们的结果与临床情况联系起来。我的研究与人类疾病密切相关，总体而言，该项目将找到改变大脑功能并改善多动症等精神疾病治疗的新方法。