The cerebellum is well known for its role in coordinating temporal and sensorimotor processes. A lesser appreciated, but no less important function of the cerebellum is its role in cognition, social function, and affective state. Humans with discrete cerebellar lesions manifest neuropsychiatric symptoms, including: flattened affect, depression, reduced language and social interactions, disturbances of working memory, spatial cognition, attention, and even psychosis in the absence of motor deficits. In persons with schizophrenia, neuroanatomical and clinical markers of cerebellar dysfunction correlate with the severity of negative symptoms. The cerebellum is reciprocally connected with several limbic structures known to play important roles in psychiatric illnesses, including the prefrontal cortex, striatum, ventral tegmental area, amygdala, and hippocampus. Virtually nothing is known about how specific cell types influence cerebellar function or how specific neuronal populations within discrete cerebellar nuclei influence behavior, particularly in cognitive, affective, and social domains. I propose that specific deep cerebellar nuclei (the major output of the cerebellum) are essential for cerebellar-dependent regulation of cognitive functions, social functions and affective state. To test this hypothesis, I have proposed to complete two specific aims. For my first aim, I will determine the impact of reversible silencing of a specific population of neurons n the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum on behaviors related to social function, affective state, and cognition. To accomplish this aim, I will transiently and reversibly inhibit specific populatios of D1 receptor expressing neurons in the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum through conditional expression of Designer Receptor Exclusively Activated by a Designer Drug (DREADD), hM4Di. For the second aim, I will determine how D1 receptor positive neurons in the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum respond during behaviorally relevant tasks using in vivo electrophysiology and in vivo calcium imaging. My goals under this proposal are to establish an independent research program that will begin to address the following questions: Does altered function of specific neuronal population in a specific region of the cerebellum contribute to specific symptom domains relevant to psychiatric illness? What is the molecular and neurophysiological phenotype of these neurons? This training grant will provide me with the skills necessary to develop and implement advanced mouse-based pharmacogenetic experiments, and to use in vivo neuronal activity monitoring tools such as electrophysiology and calcium imaging in order to examine how critical neurocircuitry regulates behavioral domains relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders.

Public Health Relevance

The cerebellum is implicated in the pathophysiology of several psychiatric illnesses, and is reciprocally connected with several limbic system structures including the prefrontal cortex, striatum, ventral tegmental area, amygdala, and hippocampus. Virtually nothing is known about how specific cell types influence cerebellar function or how specific neuronal populations within discrete cerebellar nuclei influence behavior, particularly in cognitive, affective, and social domains. I will transiently and reversibly inhibit and use two in vivo techniques to record from specific populations of D1 receptor-expressing neurons in the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum during performance of specific cognitive functions, social interactions and affective states.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08MH104281-02
Application #
8871796
Study Section
Pathophysiological Basis of Mental Disorders and Addictions Study Section (PMDA)
Program Officer
Desmond, Nancy L
Project Start
2014-07-01
Project End
2018-06-30
Budget Start
2015-07-01
Budget End
2016-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
605799469
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
Georgieff, Michael K; Tran, Phu V; Carlson, Erik S (2018) Atypical fetal development: Fetal alcohol syndrome, nutritional deprivation, teratogens, and risk for neurodevelopmental disorders and psychopathology. Dev Psychopathol 30:1063-1086
Locke, Timothy M; Soden, Marta E; Miller, Samara M et al. (2018) Dopamine D1 Receptor-Positive Neurons in the Lateral Nucleus of the Cerebellum Contribute to Cognitive Behavior. Biol Psychiatry 84:401-412