Eletrophysiologycal caracterization of prefrontal-striatal pathway activity in temporal task learning

• Grant number: 16/05473-2
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Bussotti Reyes
• Grantee: Eliezyer Fermino de Oliveira
• Home Institution: Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição (CMCC). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/03729-2 - Investigating the neural substrates of temporal task learning, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

The ability to estimate interval time and act with temporal precision is critical to adaptation and survival. Different theories and studies attempt to unveil the neural substrates of this temporal capability. Among them, it has been pointed the Dorsal Striatum (DS) and the medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC). Lesions and pharmacological manipulations in DS suggest variations in temporal perception, while mPFC seems to be responsible for the skill to discriminate between distinct interval time. The mPFC­DS pathway is well described in literature and also important to time interval processing. Also, it seems to be involved in the acquisition of other learning categories, such as associative learning. Additionally, our results suggest that the learning of some temporal tasks might be abrupt, instead of gradual as in the classical view. Here, we aim to study the interaction between mPFC and DS during learning of a task involving time interval. We will record, simultaneously, Local Field Potential (LFP) and spikes from a 32 electrodes matrix positioned in DS and another electrodes matrix in mPFC while the animal performs a Differential Reinforcement Response Duration task. This will allow us to: (i) Evaluate LFP­LFP, LFP­Spike and Spike­Spike interaction in the mPFC­DS pathway. (ii) Determine how the process of learning a temporal task learning change the neural activity in both areas. (iii) Investigate the modulation of DS activity by mPFC.