The responsibilities of the Administrative Core are to coordinate scientific collaboration within the programproject, to ensure the proper transfer of tissue and evaluation of data between Projects and Cores, and todeseminate data to researchers interested in computational modeling of prefrontal cortical (PFC) circuits inthe aging brain. The Administrative Core will faciltate scientific collaboration between Projects and Coresthrough regular lunchtime meetings. This PO1 brings together experts in cortical electrophysiology,intracellular signaling, neuroanatomy, higher cognitive function, and cortical modeling in order to tackle theproblem of aging cortical circuits from a multi-disciplinary approach. We have aspired to pair juniorinvestigators with more senior scientists to introduce new scientists to the field of aging research. The P01 ishighly interactive, depending on shared resources and multi-level analysis of brain tissue. A majorresponsibility of the Core is integrating data between Projects and Cores. Within-subjects data from Projects2-4 and the Histology and Animal Cores will be fed into the Administrative Core for multi-variate analysis byour statistician, Dr. DiPietro. We will determine how network strength, working memory, dendritic integrityand molecular signatures interact to alter cognitive abilities in the aging brain. The findings from this PO1 willbe provided to Dr. Xiao-Jing Wang for computational modeling of aging effects on PFC networks. Dr. Wangis an expert on computational models of PFC working memory networks, examining how modulatoryinfluences allow PFC networks to resist distraction. Thus, the data from this PO1, particularly theelectrophysological findings from Projects 1 and 3, will be of immediate relevance to this endeavor. To ourknowledge, this will be the first time that the effects of aging will be included in a computational model of thePFC. Finally, relevant data from this PO1 will be posted on the Senselab database for sharing with theneuroscience community. We are fortunate to have Dr. Gordon Shepherd, the founder of Senselab, asconsultant to this Administrative Core. Senselab includes several databases which are linked to the Societyfor Neuroscience Database Gateway. Thus, the findings gained in this PO1 on the aging of PFC networkswill be readily available to interested neuroscientists. LAY SUMMARY: The Administrative Core willcoordinate Projects and Cores, integrate data for statistical analysis and share data with other scientists.
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