MIT allocates a new grant to verify new hypothesis of brain learning

The locus coeruleus (LC) area of ​​the brain is very small and seems to be specialized, and its large output of the neuromodulator norepinephrine has been stereotyped

With input from more than 100 other brain regions and complex controls, when it emits norepinephrine (NE), LC's tiny surprisingly diverse population may represent an important regulatory agency to learn rewards and punishments, and then Applying experience to optimize behavior, said Mr.

Suer wrote: "It was previously considered a homogenous nucleus, exerting global and unified influence on many different target areas, and it is now considered to be a heterogeneous population of ne-releasing cells, potentially showing dominance of its function.

This article presents a large amount of new evidence from Suer and many others, indicating that the letter of credit may sensory input and internal integration from the cognitive state of the brain to accurately exert NE-mediated influence to influence action-through throttling the inactive cortex and reward or The feedback of the processing result of punishment is through throttling the NE prefrontal cortex

To investigate this hypothesis, the team has begun research using a $2.

Suer said that the hypothesis (confirmed by preliminary data) predicts that the Northeast will play a role in a number of key areas

After the mouse moves, the more surprising the feedback, the more NE it will generate and send more NE to the frontal cortex through a different group, thereby promoting better learning

Suer said: "In this way, norepinephrine can be considered a wake-up signal, but importantly, in the context of continuous function, it is also a learning signal

The team will not only measure the activity of LC-NE neurons, but will also use optogenetics (neurons can be controlled by light) to control them so they can silence or amplify the LC-NE output to show how each behavior affects Act and learn

Suer said that understanding the true nature of how LC works may help improve the treatment of certain diseases

Suer said: "If we understand the goal and the theory behind it, we hope to affect anxiety, but not make you drowsy

And LC is the early onset area of ​​Alzheimer's disease, he said

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