Project Summary

C. Daniel Salzman, M.D., Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2004) of Columbia University, aims to study in primates emotional learning and behavior, the neural circuitry of which may become dysfunctional in schizophrenia and depression. Although much research about emotional learning and memory formation has been done in the rodent, studies in primates have been limited. Studies often focus on the amygdala, a region implicated in emotion processing. While rodent studies have shown the amygdala can act in emotional learning and storage and in modulating emotional memory formation in other brain areas, these neural signals in primates have not been characterized. To investigate primate amygdala neurophysiology, Dr. Salzman proposes to record the activity of individual neurons in the amygdala while monkeys are being presented with "neutral" visual stimuli and are given either a positive reward or an aversive stimulus. These quantitative measures with other behavioral assays of emotional learning will allow Dr. Salzman to test whether amygdala neural responses correlate with emotional learning and behavior. Future studies could investigate if pharmacological and/or molecular interventions affect amygdala neural responses and emotional learning and behavior, findings that could provide information for the development of new treatments for psychiatric disorders.

Program Area: ANXIETY DISORDERS\Anxiety Disorder

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