Hemodynamic Response in the Reward Pathway of Mouse Brains in the Presence/Absence of Stimulus
Open Access
- Author:
- Vilella, Olivia Marie
- Millennium Scholars Program:
- Physics (PHYS)
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisor:
- Patrick James Drew, Thesis Supervisor
- Keywords:
- ALM
MUA
LFP
volitional behavior
nonvolitional behavior - Abstract:
- In mice, whisking and locomotion are motor behaviors used to explore an environment through acquisition sensory information. In addition to volitional exploratory behaviors, whisking and locomotion are in goal directed behaviors such as foraging for food. In order to quantify changes in neural activity related to whisking, I have developed an optical whisker-tracking device using near infrared LEDs and a high frame rate camera to monitor whisker movement in awake head fixed mice. We paired the whisker tracker with a spherical treadmill to monitor locomotion allowing for a quantifiable readout of two motor behaviors. Using these behavior monitoring devices we sought to determine if Anterior Lateral Motor (ALM) cortex, an area associated with motor movement planning, is necessary for the generation of volitional motor movements. We performed electrophysiology recordings using stereotrodes implanted in ALM in mice expressing transgenic receptors on all neurons allowing pharmacological control of neural activity. Recordings of Local Field Potentials (LFP) and Multi-Unit Activity (MUA) coupled with behavioral pre- and post- modulation of neural activity suggest (INSERT CONCLUSIONS HERE). Next, we seek to understand how activity in ALM is modulated during different types of motor behaviors, volitional vs. goal directed. I have built a reward dispensing system to allow for closed loop, randomized administration of sucrose or water as a reward for locomotion. With this device, future electrophysiology experiments can be performed to understand the role of ALM in goal directed behaviors contrasted against that of motor behaviors. My results suggest that ALM is not necessary for generation of contralateral motor movements and has established a method for testing whether ALM is necessary for the generation of reward seeking behavior.