Project Summary The overall premise of this proposal is to understand how the transformation of the signals from proprioceptive afferents within muscles leads to the representation of movements in somatosensory cortex. Proprioception is a fundamental part of the neural control of movement, evidenced by extreme movement impairments in individuals with proprioceptive loss.
PROJECT SUMMARY Stroke-causing illness, disability, and early death is set to double worldwide within the next 15 years. Despite physical therapy, about 50% of stroke survivors have impaired hand function, which strongly impacts activities of daily living and independence; novel treatment methods are urgently required. One of many predictors of chronically impaired hand function includes deficits in somatosensation.
PROJECT SUMMARY A major unresolved question in systems neuroscience is whether specialized anatomical structures support specific functions in behavior. Therefore, this proposal will bridge the gap between anatomical circuit diagrams and their predicted functional roles. Specifically, it will address the functional consequences of the patch/matrix-like “modular” anatomical organization that has recently been characterized in the inferior colliculus.
Perceptual decision-making is a complex cognitive function critical for health, reproductive success, and survival. In this process, an informed choice based on sensory evidence is made through engagement of circuits across the brain.
Project Summary/Abstract Recent evidence from multiple laboratories in both human and animal models supports a role for the granule cell (GrC) pathway of the cerebellum in representing a wide range of sensory, motor, and internal information. Classical theories of cerebellar function proposed that activity in a small number of GrCs (
Abstract Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) offer hope to treat otherwise intractable neurological disease. However, the current state of BCI is still short of the potential; solutions to fundamental biological and engineering problems must be found before BCIs can be broadly used for patient care. A collaborative group at UCSD has developed a high-density array of microelectrodes (microgrid) that surmounts many of the major hurdles facing neural interface devices.
The goal of this proposed research is to reveal the sensory origins underlying the body schema representation. Body schema is the brain's internal model of the body's spatial configuration. This internal representation is critical for sensorimotor processing, movement control, and self-awareness, and is continuously updated during movement. Body schema representations are disrupted when somatosensory input is lost. The first step toward discover the neural correlates of body schema is to uncover neural mechanisms that generate body posture representation.
Project Summary / Abstract Recent breakthroughs in neural recording technologies suggest the possibility of understanding the collective dynamics of large-scale brain circuits.
PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT Memory is an integral component of human cognition, and when memory processes go awry, the result is devastating neurological disorders of memory loss including Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. One essential role of normal memory processes is to use previous experience to guide decisions about future actions. Thus, research to define the neural mechanisms of memory processes is important to understand both normal brain function and what goes wrong in memory loss disorders.
Project Abstract/Summary This application describes a 3-year training plan that will enable me, a cognitive neuroscientist with prior training in electroencephalography (EEG), to conduct research on contextual memory representation using neuroimaging (fMRI) and computational modeling. EEG is useful for examining the timing properties of neural activity, but cannot localize activity to specific regions of the brain.
