科學家們發(fā)現(xiàn),，在學習過程中,，大腦中與情感和學習相關的區(qū)域實際上有相當多的協(xié)同作用,，這種相互間協(xié)同作用增強了記憶過程中的神經(jīng)細胞間的聯(lián)系。新成果發(fā)表在日前在線出版的《自然—神經(jīng)學》期刊上,。
Denis Pare和同事測量了大腦中與獎賞性學習相關的多個活躍區(qū)域的信號。他們將主要目標放在大腦中負責情緒調控的扁桃體結構區(qū)域,，以及大腦中與學習相關的紋狀區(qū)域,。他們發(fā)現(xiàn)，當一種聲音和一種獎賞分別單獨呈現(xiàn)時,，大腦兩個區(qū)域的活動節(jié)奏在聲音響起時的活動并不協(xié)調,。然而，當動物們知道聲音的響起預示著即將來臨的獎賞時,，扁桃體區(qū)和紋狀區(qū)的活動就變得更加協(xié)同,。這種協(xié)同性對兩個區(qū)域來說都很特別，而且目前的科學文獻中沒有記載過其他的大腦區(qū)域有這種協(xié)同性,。
以前的研究顯示,，當兩種神經(jīng)元的點火同時發(fā)生時，這兩種神經(jīng)元間的聯(lián)絡被強化了,，因此,，這種強化的聯(lián)系應該是記憶力提高的機理所在。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Nature Neuroscience 10 May 2009 | doi:10.1038/nn.2305
Coherent gamma oscillations couple the amygdala and striatum during learning
Andrei T Popescu1, Daniela Popa1 & Denis Paré1
The basolateral amygdala (BLA) mediates the facilitating effects of emotions on memory. The BLA's enhancing influence extends to various types of memories, including striatal-dependent habit formation. To shed light on the underlying mechanisms, we carried out unit and local field potential (LFP) recordings in BLA, striatum, auditory cortex and intralaminar thalamus in cats trained on a stimulus-response task in which the presentation of one of two tones predicted reward delivery. The coherence of BLA, but not of cortical or thalamic, LFPs was highest with striatal gamma activity, and intra-BLA muscimol infusions selectively reduced striatal gamma power. Moreover, coupling of BLA-striatal unit activity increased when LFP gamma power was augmented. Early in training, the rewarded and unrewarded tones elicited a modest increase in coherent BLA-striatal gamma. As learning progressed, this gamma coupling selectively increased in relation to the rewarded tone. Thus, coherent gamma oscillations coordinate amygdalostriatal interactions during learning and might facilitate synaptic plasticity.
1 Center for Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers State University, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
