前额叶皮层在数字工作记忆维持中的作用:事件相关fMRI研究

目的采用事件相关功能磁共振成像(ER-fMRI)探讨前额叶皮层在工作记忆维持期的作用。方法20名正常受试者接受sternberg项目认知任务的功能磁共振成像。采用相对低负载、高负载任务。组分析方法评价维持期相对低、高负载时平均脑区激活情况;组间比较探讨高负载任务出现相关激活增加的脑区。结果维持期与双侧前额叶背外侧皮层(DLPFC)、双侧前额叶腹外侧皮层(VLPFC)、顶叶、辅助运动区(SMA)和运动前区(PMA)、视觉相关皮层激活相关,VLPFC等脑区在高负载任务中激活增加。结论工作记忆维持和操纵之间可能存在功能上的、而非神经解剖的区分。     

多巴胺受体的结构和功能

多巴胺是大脑中含量最丰富的儿茶酚胺类神经递质。多巴胺作为神经递质调控中枢神经系统的多种生理功能。多巴胺系统调节障碍涉及帕金森病，精神分裂症，Tourette综合征，注意力缺陷多动综合征和垂体肿瘤的发生等。本文综述了多巴胺受体的共同特征和各个受体的独特特征，以及它们在中枢神经系统的分布和功能，重点强调了多巴胺受体与学习记忆的关系。     

Single unit activity in the auditory cortex of a monkey performing a short term memory task

Summary Short term memory to tones (STMT) was investigated by recording single unit activity in the auditory cortex of a behaving monkey. The activity of each unit was studied in two behavioral conditions: a) During task performance, the monkey had to compare two tones separated by one second of silence (inter-stimulus interval), b) During a nonperforming period; the monkey heard the two tones but did not respond behaviorally. It was noted that the firing rate of many units during the inter-stimulus interval (ISI) was dependent on the frequency of the first tone. Such dependency was observed even towards the end of the ISI, both during task performance trials (50% of the units) and during the nonperforming period (32% of the units). The activity of these units could be the basis of STMT in both of these behavioral states. In 65% of all the units tested, the responses during the ISI were of a higher magnitude in the performance period than were the responses in the non-performance period. The activity of these units may be related either to general processes such as attention and expectation or to short-term memory processes. During task performance, the responses of 23% of the units to the second tone were dependent on whether its frequency was identical to that of the first tone. Such dependency was never observed during the non-performing period. These units may detect similarity or non similarity between two tones presented one second apart. Periodic patterns of firing were not found in the study, thus suggesting that the ISI responses were not generated by reverberatory activity in simple closed loops. On the basis of these results, several alternative mechanisms of STMT are suggested.     

妊娠压力对大鼠子代早期空间学习记忆能力的影响

【目的】探索妊娠期精神压力对大鼠子代早期空间学习、记忆能力的影响。【方法】实验采取产前束缚压力,建立妊娠期大鼠精神压力暴露模型。然后对子代进行Morris水迷宫测试,分析妊娠期压力对子代早期学习和记忆的影响及性别间的差异,同时检测实验前、后子鼠的血清肾上腺酮的变化。【结果】①在隐蔽平台试验中,对照组的平均潜伏期较实验组短,但差异无显著性(F=0.599,P>0.05)。②在保持力试验中,对照组在原平台所在象限逗留的时间大于实验组,差异有显著性(F=4.588,P<0.05)。③子代血清肾上腺酮的测定结果表明:水迷宫测试前,实验组和对照组相比,差异无显著性(F=0.169,P>0.05);实验后,实验组血清肾上腺酮比对照组高,差异具有显著性(F=6.098,P<0.05)。【结论】①妊娠压力可导致子代学习,记忆能力的改变;②妊娠压力造成子代在应激情况下血清肾上腺酮的过度分泌。③妊娠压力对子代的影响没有明显性别差异。     

Quisqualate lesions of rat NBM: Selective effects on working memory in a double Y-maze

Some authors have reported that quisqualic acid lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM), although producing large cortical cholinergic losses, have little effect on memory. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of quisqualic acid lesions of the NBM on working and reference memory in a double Y-maze. Each trial started with placement into one of the two end arms of the first Y-maze, and the correct response was to go down the stem (reference memory). Access was then given to the second Y-maze, the correct response being conditional upon the side of the first Y-maze from which that trial had begun (working memory). Rats were trained to an 88% correct criterion and were then given either bilateral quisqualic acid (60 nM, 0.5 microliters) or sham lesions (0.9% saline, 0.5 microliters) of the NBM. One week postsurgery, rats were tested on the double Y-maze task with delays of 0, 5 or 30 seconds being introduced prior to both the working and reference memory choice. NBM lesions produced a 63.2 +/- 6.2% decrease of cortical choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) compared to unoperated controls. Delays affected only the working memory of the sham group. Rats with lesions showed a significant impairment of working memory at all delays, but no change in reference memory. Results indicate that quisqualic acid lesions of the NBM that produce significant reductions in cortical ChAT selectively impair working memory.     

The effects of peripherald-amphetamine, 4-OH amphetamine, and epinephrine on maintained discharge in the locus coeruleus with reference to the modulation of learning and memory by these substances

d-Amphetamine, 4-OH amphetamine, and epinephrine have been shown in many behavioral studies to facilitate memory when given post-training. The effect of these drugs on the maintained discharge of cells in the locus coeruleus (LC) was investigated using a route of administration (intraperitoneal) and a log-dose range of these drugs comparable to those used in the behavioral experiments.d-Amphetamine profoundly suppressed maintained discharge: an inhibitory effect was observed at every dose (0.1, 1.0, 10.0 mg/kg). In contrast, only the highest dose of 4-OH amphetamine (8.2 mg/kg) inhibited activity in the LC, and this effect was a modest one. Unlike the amphetamines, epinephrine (500 μ/kg) elevated maintained discharge. These results are discussed in the contex of the hypothesized involvement of the LC in the enhancement of memory by these drugs.     

Memory function in normal aging

Basic findings obtained on memory functions in normal aging are presented and discussed with respect to five separate but interacting memory systems. These systems are: episodic memory, semantic memory, short-term memory, perceptual representation system and procedural memory. All available evidence from cross-sectional research shows that there is a linear, decreasing memory performance as a function of age for episodic memory. Longitudinal studies suggest, however, that this age deficit may be an overestimation, by showing a relatively stable performance level up to middle age, followed by a sharp decline. Studies on semantic memory, short-term memory, perceptual representation system, and procedural memory show a relatively constant performance level across the adult life span, although some tasks used to assess short-term memory and procedural memory have revealed an age deficit. Disregarding the mixed results for these latter two memory systems, it can be concluded that episodic memory is unique in showing an age deficit. Episodic memory is also unique in the sense that it is the only memory system showing gender differences in performance throughout the adult life span with a significantly higher performance for women.     

Learning and retention of movement sequences in Parkinson's disease.

The purpose of this study was to examine motor learning and retention given extensive practice in two fundamentally different movement sequences. One sequence was a memory-driven task (performing a series of whole body positions from memory) and the other a context-driven task (buttoning). Practice took place over 3 weeks, with performance measured weekly; retention was measured weekly for 3 weeks after practice. There were 7 people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 7 age-matched neurologically healthy people who participated in this study. Both groups improved performance on both tasks with practice, with the majority of the change for the PD group occurring between 1 and 2 weeks of practice. Although those with PD did not necessarily perform as well as age-matched controls, they learned both sequences in a manner similar to age-matched controls, and exhibited retention across the 3-week retention interval. If people with PD are given sufficient practice they can learn and retain both memory-based and context-driven movement sequences as well as age-matched controls. The results provide support for maintaining physical activity and for intervention through movement therapy.     

Cognition in stroke

Introduction – Despite the current interest in criteria for vascular dementia, global, as opposed to focal, cognitive change after cerebral infarction has rarely been studied. Material and methods – We documented the neuropsychological changes one to three weeks and three months post infarct in 25 unselected patients with acute, first cerebral infarcts. Results – Improvements were seen in processes thought to have a large subcortical component and in those mediated in the right hemisphere. Memory was relatively lightly affected. Conclusion – The minimal deficits seen in memory and the predominance of subcortical changes are at variance with the currently suggested criteria for vascular dementia. Further data of this kind are needed before firm criteria can be proposed for the global pattern of cognitive changes expected in vascular dementia.