Analysis of the Genesis and Control of Biological Rhythms.
Abstract
The overall goals of this project were to analyze various processes contributing to the generation and control of behavior. and to study mechanisms underlying modification of behavior by learning and memory. The Investigation focused on feeding behaviors of marine mollusk Aplysia and on neurons that generate these behaviors. Progress was made in five areas: 1) The investigation of mechanisms of switching from rejection to ingestion of food has revealed that neuron B4/5 Is Involved in biasing the feeding center toward generating ingestion. 2) Analysis of modulation of feeding by the neurotransmitter dopamine indicated that It has various and cell-specific effects on different neurons controlling feeding. The changes appear to synergistically reconfigure the neurons to generate ingestion. 3) In the study of earning during operant conditioning, neuron 651 was found to be associated with the expression of ingestion motor patterns. B51 appears to be sufficient for the contingent%dependent enhancement of the ingestion-like activity. 4) Pharmacological analysis suggested that dopamine is involved in the contingent-dependent modulation of feeding. 5) To study the mechanisms of classical (Pavlovian) conditioning, a procedure for conditioning of feeding behavior was developed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 09, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA375137
Entities
People
- John H. Byrne
Organizations
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston