<p>Forebrain cholinergic projection systems innervate the entire cortex and hippocampus. These cholinergic systems are involved in a wide range of cognitive and behavioral functions, including learning and memory, attention, and sleep-waking modulation. However, the <italic>in vivo</italic> physiological mechanisms of cholinergic functions, particularly their fast dynamics and the consequent modulation on the hippocampus and cortex, are not well understood. In this dissertation, I investigated these issues using a number of convergent approaches.</p><p> First, to study fast acetylcholine (ACh) dynamics and its interaction with field potential theta oscillations, I developed a novel technique to acquire second-by-second electrophysiological and neurochemical information simultaneously with amperometry. Using this technique on anesthetized rats, I discovered for the first time the tight <italic>in vivo</italic> coupling between phasic ACh release and theta oscillations on fine spatiotemporal scales. In addition, with electrophysiological recording, putative cholinergic neurons in medial setpal area (MS) were found with firing rate dynamics matching the phasic ACh release. </p><p> Second, to further elucidate the dynamic activities and physiological functions of cholinergic neurons, putative cholinergic MS neurons were identified in behaving rats. These neurons had much higher firing rates during rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, and brief responses to auditory stimuli. Interestingly, their firing promoted theta/gamma oscillations, or small-amplitude irregular activities (SIA) in a state-dependent manner. These results suggest that putative MS cholinergic neurons may be a generalized hippocampal activation/arousal network. </p><p> Third, I investigated the hypothesis that ACh enhances cortical and hippocampal immediate-early gene (IEG) expression induced by novel sensory experience. Cholinergic transmission was manipulated with pharmacology or lesion. The resultant cholinergic impairment suppressed the induction of <italic>arc</italic>, a representative IEG, suggesting that ACh promotes IEG induction. </p><p> In conclusion, my results have revealed that the firing of putative cholinergic neurons promotes hippocampal activation, and the consequent phasic ACh release is tightly coupled to theta oscillations. These fast cholinergic activities may provide exceptional opportunities to dynamically modulate neural activity and plasticity on much finer temporal scales than traditionally assumed. By the subsequent promotion of IEG induction, ACh may further substantiate its function in neural plasticity and memory consolidation.</p> / Dissertation

Le lien d’appariement unissant un mâle et une femelle a été peu exploré chez les Oiseaux, alors que la plupart sont monogames. De plus, l’étude de la monogamie s’est souvent cantonnée à l’exploration des comportements liés à la reproduction et au choix du partenaire. L’objectif de cette thèse est d’identifier les comportements sociaux caractéristiques du lien d’appariement et leurs supports cérébraux chez un passereau social et monogame, le Diamant mandarin (Taeniopygia guttata). Grâce aux concepts de la théorie des réseaux appliqués à l’étude en laboratoire des interactions sociales, cette thèse s’intéresse à la valeur sociale du lien d’appariement. Elle montre qu’il représente un véritable partenariat social, suffisamment favorable pour que se forment des couples homosexuels en cas d’indisponibilité d’oiseaux du sexe opposé. Par l’étude en milieu naturel des communications acoustiques entre partenaires, ce lien est apparu comme le cadre d’échanges vocaux particuliers : de discrets duos de cris émis dans l’intimité du nid. En s’intéressant au rythme d’émission des vocalisations à l’échelle du groupe, cette thèse jette également un nouveau regard sur l’étude des communications acoustiques. La dynamique du réseau acoustique que représente le groupe est influencée par la proportion d’oiseaux appariés. Enfin, les causes proximales des liens sociaux sont abordées : l’activité du réseau cérébral impliqué dans l’expression des comportements sociaux, le « Social Behavior Network » (SBN), varie avec la possibilité de créer des liens chez les mâles. Cette thèse participe donc à définir le lien d’appariement comme un lien social complexe dont les avantages ne se limiteraient pas à la reproduction. Elle révèle ses conséquences tant sur le réseau social, que sur le réseau acoustique du groupe de diamants mandarins, et soulève l’implication potentielle du réseau cérébral SBN dans les mécanismes de sa formation et de son maintien / Although most birds are monogamous, the pair-bond between a male and a female remains relatively unexplored in these species. Moreover, the study of monogamy mainly focused on behaviours linked to reproduction and partner choice. The aim of this thesis is to identify the social behaviours and the neurophysiological mechanisms of pair-bonding in a social and monogamous passerine, the Zebra finch (Teaniopygia guttata). Using concepts of network theory to study social interactions in the laboratory, this thesis explores the social value of the pair-bond. We showed that the pair-bond is a genuine partnership, whose social value might explain why birds establish same-sex pair-bonds when partners of the opposite sex are scarce. The study of acoustic communication between mates in the field revealed that partners perform specific vocal displays : they use private duets of calls in the intimacy of their nest. By investigating the rhythm of emission of vocalizations at group scale, this thesis takes a fresh look at the study of acoustic communication. The proportion of paired birds in a group influences the dynamic of the acoustic network constituted by the social group. Finally, we tackled the proximal explanations of social bonding : in males, social relationships affect the activity of the brain network implicated in social behaviours, the Social Behavior Network (SBN). This thesis underlines the social complexity of the pair-bond that might bring benefits beyond reproduction. It reveals the consequences of pair-bonding on both social network and acoustic network, and points towards a role of the SBN in pair-bond establishment and maintenance