PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Comparative research suggests that the hypothalamus is critical in switching between survival behaviors, yet it is unclear if this is the case in humans. Here, we investigate the role of the human hypothalamus in survival switching by introducing a paradigm where volunteers switch between hunting and escape in response to encounters with a virtual predator or prey. Given the small size and low tissue contrast of the hypothalamus, we used deep learning-based segmentation to identify the individual-specific hypothalamus and its subnuclei as well as an imaging sequence optimized for hypothalamic signal acquisition. Across 2 experiments, we employed computational models with identical structures to explain internal movement generation processes associated with hunting and escaping. Despite the shared structure, the models exhibited significantly different parameter values where escaping or hunting were accurately decodable just by computing the parameters of internal movement generation processes. In experiment 2, multi-voxel pattern analyses (MVPA) showed that the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and periaqueductal gray encode switching of survival behaviors while not encoding simple motor switching outside of the survival context. Furthermore, multi-voxel connectivity analyses revealed a network including the hypothalamus as encoding survival switching and how the hypothalamus is connected to other regions in this network. Finally, model-based fMRI analyses showed that a strong hypothalamic multi-voxel pattern of switching is predictive of optimal behavioral coordination after switching, especially when this signal was synchronized with the multi-voxel pattern of switching in the amygdala. Our study is the first to identify the role of the human hypothalamus in switching between survival behaviors and action organization after switching.
摘要：
比较研究表明，下丘脑对生存行为之间的转换至关重要，然而，目前还不清楚这是否是人类的情况。这里,我们通过引入一个范例来研究人类下丘脑在生存转换中的作用，在该范例中，志愿者在狩猎和逃脱之间进行切换，以应对与虚拟捕食者或猎物的相遇。考虑到下丘脑的小尺寸和低组织对比度，我们使用基于深度学习的分割来识别个体特异性下丘脑及其亚核，以及为下丘脑信号采集优化的成像序列。在两个实验中，我们使用具有相同结构的计算模型来解释与狩猎和逃脱相关的内部运动生成过程。尽管共享结构，模型表现出明显不同的参数值，其中逃逸或狩猎仅通过计算内部运动生成过程的参数即可准确解码。在实验2中，多体素模式分析(MVPA)显示下丘脑，海马体,和水管周围的灰色编码生存行为的切换，而不编码生存环境之外的简单运动切换。此外，多体素连通性分析揭示了一个包括下丘脑作为编码生存转换的网络,以及下丘脑如何连接到该网络中的其他区域.最后,基于模型的fMRI分析表明，一个强大的下丘脑多体素模式的切换是预测的最佳行为协调切换后，特别是当这个信号与杏仁核中的多体素切换模式同步时。我们的研究是第一个确定人类下丘脑在切换后的生存行为和行动组织之间切换的作用的研究。
