Impact of Dopaminergic Transmission over a Neural Network Accompanied by Astrocytes for the Simulation of Working Memory

• Grant number: 21/12832-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2023
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biology
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Carlos Roque da Silva Filho
• Grantee: Thiago Takechi Ohno Bezerra
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/14422-9 - A simplified hierarchical model for the simulation of astrocyte activity, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The working memory is a cognitive function characterized by the temporary maintenance of information to perform a task. This function is extremely important for everyday tasks. In general, during working memory tests the subject must temporarily maintain an information and then use it to perform the task. Oscillatory activity in prefrontal cortex (PFC), dopaminergic transmission and astrocytes have been implied in the working memory function. Some psychiatry disorders like attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and schizophrenia show working memory impairments. The reduction of dopaminergic activity in PFC and functional alteration in astrocytes were associated with working memory deficits observed in these disorders. In spite of this, previous computational models did not explore the connections between dopaminergic transmission and astrocytes. Therefore, the objective of the present project is to develop a computational model of a neural network accompanied by astrocytes for the simulation of working memory. In this model, it will be studied the impact of dopaminergic transmission and astrocytes on working memory, correlating the neural network and the astrocyte network activities with the performance in working memory tasks. The associations between alterations in dopaminergic transmission and in astrocytes that are present in ADHD and schizophrenia with the working memory impairments in these disorders will be explored.