Learning, Memory and Decision Neuroscience – LMDN

Topics

• Anatomical pathways, functional circuits, and behavioral physiology that mediate learning and memory or decision making in normal and pathological states.
• Mechanisms and function of memory encoding, retrieval, and forgetting.
• Unconventional molecular, cellular, and biochemical concepts for memory engrams.
• Neural and synaptic correlates of learning, memory, and decision making assessed at the level of single neuron and population firing patterns, brain rhythms, and imaging in in vitro and in vivo models including awake behaving animals.
• Cellular, molecular, genetic, and epigenetic events that underlie plasticity, as they relate to learning, memory, and decision making
• Biomarkers of learning, memory, and decision making.
• Circadian influences on learning and memory.
• Effects of developmental perturbations (e.g., stress, drugs of abuse), or age-related change on learning, memory and decision making across the lifespan.
• Effects of disease and injury on the fundamental neurobiological processes underlying learning, memory and decision making.
• Neurobiological mechanisms behind normal developmental and age-related changes in learning, memory and decision making
• Computational, AI, and machine learning approaches to modeling of synaptic plasticity, neural circuitry, intercellular and intracellular processes, and interactions among brain structures that affect learning, memory and decision making.
• Spatial navigation when the focus is on spatial learning and hippocampal/entorhinal cortex circuits.

Shared Interests and Overlaps

Applications focused on the use of behavioral assays to understanding learning and memory, and with limited molecular and circuit-level mechanistic analysis, may be reviewed by Biobehavioral Regulation, Learning and Ethology Study Section (BRLE).

There are shared interests with the Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior (NMB) study section in the area of motivated behavior.  Applications with molecular, cellular, and neurocircuitry questions related to memory associated with motivated behavior are generally reviewed in LMDN, whereas applications that address regulation of learning or decision making associated with the rewarding and aversive cues, may be reviewed by NMB.

Circuitry-level studies of the neural basis of learning, memory and decision making in animals are generally reviewed by LMDN. However, applications involving learning and memory, perceptual decision making or other executive functions that emphasize understanding the processing of visual, auditory, olfactory, or gustatory cues or multi-sensory integration are more typically reviewed in Neuroscience of Basic Visual Processes (NBVP), Auditory System (AUD) or Neuroscience of Interoception and Chemosensation (NIC).

Applications focused on motor learning may be more appropriate for review in Sensory-Motor Neuroscience (SMN).

Applications focused on cognition and perception in human subjects or nonhuman primates, with emphasis on behavioral analysis and neuroimaging methods, may be reviewed in Human Complex Mental Function (HCMF).

Applications to investigate neurodegeneration not focused on mechanisms of learning and memory, are generally reviewed by Chronic Dysfunction and Integrative Neurodegeneration (CDIN). When such applications primarily investigate learning and memory processes, they are often more appropriate for LMDN.

Applications involving extensive computational and analytical modeling may be reviewed by Modeling and Analysis of Biological Systems (MABS), especially when the focus is on development of modeling methods or approaches; applications of computational approaches to problems in learning, memory, or decision making are more likely appropriate for LMDN.

There are shared interests in neurobiological mechanisms and neural plasticity with Neuronal Communications (NC). Applications that emphasize organismal/systems level of plasticity, learning, memory, and decision making are reviewed in LMDN. Applications that emphasize the cellular level of neuronal communications and plasticity are reviewed in NC.

There are overlaps in the area of spatial learning and navigation with Biobehavioral Regulation, Learning and Ethology (BRLE) and with SMN. Animal models of learning or navigation with a predominantly behavioral orientation reviewed in BRLE whereas animal models of navigation that focus on central circuits with a learning component are usually reviewed in LMDN. Studies focusing on sensory integration are usually reviewed in SMN.