Metherate 9510904 The brain seems to process information in special ways during times of behavioral arousal. One aspect of this arousal is secretion of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) within the cerebral cortex. It has not yet been determined exactly how ACh modifies cortical function. With this award, Dr. Metherate will determine how ACh secretion activates the cortex, and in particular how it modifies information processing within cellular circuits within the cortex. The auditory cortex will be used as a model system for these studies. This work will uncover important cellular mechanisms of plasticity that are likely to be involved in shifts of attention, learning and memory. ***
