The principal aim of the proposed studies is to examine the role of the nonspecific thalamus in brain information processing. It is well-known that cognitive disturbances may arise from either structural or functional disturbances of the nonspecific thalamus as seen in several neurological disorders. To examine the cellular basis of these disturbances two primate models are proposed. In the propose studies visual processing is chosen as an assay to examine the role of the nonspecific thalamus in cortical information processing and visually guided behavior. In the first study, receptive fields of primary visual cortical neurons (Vl cells) will be studied before, during and after 3/s spike and wave complexes generated by stimulation of nonspecific thalamic structures (either intralaminar nuclei or median dorsalis). This experiment will exploit the advanced knowledge of V1 receptive field properties and the growing understanding the thalamocortical relationships. The second study proposes a primate model of thalamic neglect induced by reversible deactivation of the intraliminar nuclei. In this model behavior will be carefully studied with characterization of general behavior, oculomotor function and perceptual processing. The two projects form a comprehensive training in methods necessary for future independent investigation of the role of the nonspecific thalamus in cognitive disorders. The long-range goals of these studies to lay the foundation for eventual therapeutic intervention for cognitive dysfunction following stroke or head trauma.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08NS002014-03
Application #
2891455
Study Section
NST-2 Subcommittee (NST)
Program Officer
Nichols, Paul L
Project Start
1997-09-30
Project End
2000-08-31
Budget Start
1999-09-01
Budget End
2000-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
201373169
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10065
Shah, Sudhin A; Schiff, Nicholas D (2010) Central thalamic deep brain stimulation for cognitive neuromodulation - a review of proposed mechanisms and investigational studies. Eur J Neurosci 32:1135-44
Schiff, Nicholas D (2010) Recovery of consciousness after brain injury: a mesocircuit hypothesis. Trends Neurosci 33:1-9
Schiff, Nicholas D; Plum, Fred; Rezai, Ali R (2002) Developing prosthetics to treat cognitive disabilities resulting from acquired brain injuries. Neurol Res 24:116-24
Schiff, N D; Rezai, A R; Plum, F (2000) A neuromodulation strategy for rational therapy of complex brain injury states. Neurol Res 22:267-72
Schiff, N D; Purpura, K P; Victor, J D (1999) Gating of local network signals appears as stimulus-dependent activity envelopes in striate cortex. J Neurophysiol 82:2182-96