Our current understanding of the mechanisms that allow the nervous system to function as a sensorimotor integrator and incorporate recent experiences into the induction of an appropriate behavioral response is limited. Fundamental insights into these processes are likely to be achieved in multidisciplinary studies that span the levels of circuit analysis, characterization of actions of first messengers, and characterization of integrative properties of second messengers. We propose a series of experiments that will be conducted in a preparation in which this type of integrated approach is possible. We will characterize an arousal state we refer to as build-up that is manifested as progressive increases in the strength and/or articulation of responses as they are repeatedly evoked. Our work seeks to explain both the induction and persistence of this phenomenon. We will test a hypothesis that is strongly supported by previous findings and preliminary data. This hypothesis postulates that as higher order neurons that initiate behavior are repeatedly activated, they release modulatory peptide cotransmitters. These peptides exert second messenger-mediated effects on motor neurons and interneurons that are activated in a behavior specific manner. The excitability and firing frequency of these cells is progressively increased and the ongoing behavior is progressively strengthened. To test our hypotheses, we will perform experiments in the isolated nervous system that will evaluate effects of released peptides. For example, we will characterize biophysical and biochemical mechanisms of actions. Analytical work will utilize identified neurons and will include experiments that assess consequences of peptide release during motor program generation. Additionally, to further probe the behavioral role of the characterized mechanisms, we will perform experiments in semi-intact preparations in which we will block or activate specific second messenger mediated effects and quantify resulting changes in movements. This work is relevant to public health in that impairments in behavior initiation and execution are associated with a number of serious psychiatric disorders, e.g., autism, adult attention deficit pathologies, compulsive obsessive disorders, and depression. Additionally, these types of pathologies are associated with neurological disorders, e.g., Parkinson's disease and a number of other pathologies that results from trauma- or neurodegeneration- induced lesions of the CNS.

Public Health Relevance

The phenomenon we study, network arousal, facilitates the initiation of a behavior and insures that the behavior is executed in a well articulated manner. Impairments in behavior initiation are associated with a number of serious psychiatric disorders, e.g., adult attention deficit pathologies, compulsive obsessive disorders, and depression. Additionally, these types of impairments are associated with neurological disorders, e.g., Parkinson's disease and other conditions involving lesions of the CNS;studies that characterize mechanisms that mediate network arousal are likely to provide insights that will facilitate the development of novel therapeutic approaches for these pathological conditions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
9R01NS066587-27
Application #
7690157
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IFCN-A (04))
Program Officer
Chen, Daofen
Project Start
1990-05-01
Project End
2013-02-28
Budget Start
2009-03-06
Budget End
2010-02-28
Support Year
27
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$370,781
Indirect Cost
Name
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
078861598
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10029
Perkins, Matthew H; Cropper, Elizabeth C; Weiss, Klaudiusz R (2018) Cellular Effects of Repetition Priming in the Aplysia Feeding Network Are Suppressed during a Task-Switch But Persist and Facilitate a Return to the Primed State. J Neurosci 38:6475-6490
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Cropper, Elizabeth C; Dacks, Andrew M; Weiss, Klaudiusz R (2016) Consequences of degeneracy in network function. Curr Opin Neurobiol 41:62-67
Siniscalchi, Michael J; Cropper, Elizabeth C; Jing, Jian et al. (2016) Repetition priming of motor activity mediated by a central pattern generator: the importance of extrinsic vs. intrinsic program initiators. J Neurophysiol 116:1821-1830
Friedman, Allyson K; Weiss, Klaudiusz R; Cropper, Elizabeth C (2015) Specificity of repetition priming: the role of chemical coding. J Neurosci 35:6326-34

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