<p> A change in a stimulus response relationship implies that there has been a change in the internal state of the relevant behavior-generating network. Frequently, network states are persistent, biasing responses for some time following stimulus exposure. This benefits subsequent behavioral performance when the same stimulus is re-encountered. Alternatively, it can also negatively impact initiation of a second (distinct) task, i.e. there can be a task-switch cost. Recently, work from a few invertebrate model systems has begun to determine how experience dependent network states are mediated on a cellular/molecular level. A fundamental question I have addressed is, does the establishment of one network-state remove a prior state, or can two network states overlap and interact? In this thesis I provide data that indicate that in the feeding circuit of <i>Aplysia,</i> network states that promote incompatible behaviors can indeed overlap. In addition, I describe a novel role for a cyclic nucleotide gated ion-current, as supporting an experience dependent network state through a persistent modulation of cell excitability. </p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:10099545 |
| Date | 22 April 2016 |
| Creators | Perkins, Matthew |
| Publisher | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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