The Relationship Between Cholinergic and Noradrenergic Activity and Behavioral State
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Date
2021
Authors
Francis, John
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Animal behaviors result from complex network activity in the brain. Precise excitation and inhibition within these networks are partially regulated by neuromodulatory systems that regulate the behavior of other neurons. This regulation is accomplished by the neuromodulators acetylcholine (ACh) and noradrenaline (NA). This project investigates the relationship between ACh and NA neuromodulatory activity and behavioral state with respect to arousal and behavior-dependent modes of neuromodulation. Using systems neuroscience techniques, such as intracranial viral injections and 2- photon microscopy, this project offers novel insights into the dynamic relationship between ACh and NA activity and behavioral state in mice. First, I confirm the relationship between neuromodulatory activity and arousal state in relation to walking velocity, whisking, and pupil dilation/constriction. Second, I demonstrate that increases in both ACh and NA axonal activity closely track and precede the onset whisking bouts, but not walking. Last, I show that ACh axonal activity across the cortex is significantly less correlated during whisking and walking compared to stationary periods. This project furthers our current knowledge of the relationship between neuromodulatory activity and observable patterns of behavior by offering new evidence of more localized, state-dependent modes of neuromodulation.
Description
1 page.
Keywords
Neuromodulation, Brain, Behavior, Neuroscience, Arousal