Scientists Find Way to Control Perception of Time in Rats’ Brains
Scientists at Champalimaud Research’s Learning Lab have discovered a way to manipulate the speed of neural dynamics in the striatum of rats to control their perception of time. The study used temperature to manipulate the rats’ neural activity, affecting their timing behavior.
The Role of the Striatum and Cerebellum in Movement Control
The striatum plays a critical role in determining “what” to do and “when” to do it when it comes to movement control, while the cerebellum is responsible for the continuous, moment-by-moment execution of our actions. By applying temperature manipulations to the striatum, the researchers were able to stretch or contract neural activity in time, showing that slowing down or speeding up the striatum’s patterns of activity didn’t correspondingly slow down or speed up the rats’ movements in the task.
Implications for Neurological Disorders and Robotics
The findings of the study could have important implications for the development of new therapies for neurological disorders that disrupt the brain’s internal clockwork, such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s. These diseases involve time-related symptoms and compromised striatum, and the study’s results could advance the development of novel therapeutic targets for these debilitating conditions. The study’s findings could also influence algorithmic frameworks used in robotics and learning by highlighting a more specific role for the striatum in discrete, as opposed to continuous, motor control.
Remaining Mysteries
While the researchers have made significant progress in understanding how the brain regulates timing behavior, there are still many questions to be answered, including what brain circuits create these timekeeping ripples of activity in the first place and what computations these ripples might perform besides keeping time.
Overall, the study provides important insights into the causal relationship between neural activity and timing function in the brain, and the researchers hope that their findings will lead to new discoveries in the field of neuroscience.
FAQ:
Q: What is the study about?
A: The study conducted by researchers from Champalimaud Research’s Learning Lab is about manipulating the speed of neural dynamics in the striatum of rats to control their perception of time.
Q: What is the striatum?
A: The striatum is a part of the brain that plays a critical role in determining “what” to do and “when” to do it when it comes to movement control.
Q: What is the cerebellum?
A: The cerebellum is a part of the brain that is responsible for the continuous, moment-by-moment execution of our actions.
Q: What are the implications of the study’s findings?
A: The study’s findings could have important implications for the development of new therapies for neurological disorders that disrupt the brain’s internal clockwork, such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s. The study’s results could advance the development of novel therapeutic targets for these debilitating conditions.
Q: How could the study’s findings influence robotics and learning?
A: The study’s results could influence algorithmic frameworks used in robotics and learning by highlighting a more specific role for the striatum in discrete, as opposed to continuous, motor control.
Q: What questions remain unanswered?
A: While the researchers have made significant progress in understanding how the brain regulates timing behavior, there are still many questions to be answered, including what brain circuits create these timekeeping ripples of activity in the first place and what computations these ripples might perform besides keeping time.
Q: What is the brain?
A: The brain is the organ responsible for controlling and coordinating the body’s functions and activities. It is located in the head and is protected by the skull.
Q: What are the different parts of the brain?
A: The brain is composed of several different parts, each with specific functions. These include the cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, and basal ganglia.
Q: What is the cerebrum?
A: The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and is responsible for conscious thought, sensations, and voluntary movement.
Q: What is the cerebellum?
A: The cerebellum is a part of the brain that is responsible for the coordination and regulation of muscular activity.
Q: What is the brainstem?
A: The brainstem is the lower part of the brain that connects the brain to the spinal cord. It controls many vital functions, including breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Q: What are the basal ganglia?
A: The basal ganglia are a group of structures in the brain that are involved in the regulation of voluntary motor movements, procedural learning, and cognitive and emotional functions.
Q: How does the brain communicate with the rest of the body?
A: The brain communicates with the rest of the body through the nervous system, which consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
Reference:
- “Using temperature to analyze the neural basis of a time-based decision” by Tiago Monteiro, Filipe S. Rodrigues, Margarida Pexirra, Bruno F. Cruz, Ana I. Gonçalves, Pavel E. Rueda-Orozco and Joseph J. Paton, 13 July 2023, Nature Neuroscience.
DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01378-5 - https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-discover-a-way-to-manipulate-the-brains-perception-of-time/
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