澳大利亚墨尔本大学Lucy Maree Palmer和Robertas Guzulaitis共同合作近期取得重要工作进展，他们研究发现额叶皮层中预期和过早冲动行为的神经基础。相关研究工作2022年11月14日在线发表于《自然—神经科学》杂志上。

规划运动行为可以改善行为表现，然而，它也可能会导致过早的行动。尽管已知前外侧运动皮层（ALM）对于正确的运动规划很重要，但目前尚不清楚它如何导致过早的冲动性运动输出。在小鼠进行有提示的感觉联想任务时，使用ALM内第2/3层锥体神经元的全细胞电压记录来解决这个问题。在听觉提示期间诱发了一个强大的电压反应，在不正确的过早行为期间，这一反应比在正确的任务执行期间更大。在提示性感觉联想任务中用光遗传学方法抑制ALM，导致行为的增强，过早反应更少、延迟更多，正确反应更快。

总之，这一发现扩展了ALM目前已知的作用，阐明ALM通过编码和影响过早运动输出在冲动行为中起着重要作用。

附：英文原文

Title: Neural basis of anticipation and premature impulsive action in the frontal cortex

Author: Guzulaitis, Robertas, Godenzini, Luca, Palmer, Lucy Maree

Issue&Volume: 2022-11-14

Abstract: Planning motor actions can improve behavioral performance; however, it can also lead to premature actions. Although the anterior lateral motor cortex (ALM) is known to be important for correct motor planning, it is currently unknown how it contributes to premature impulsive motor output. This was addressed using whole-cell voltage recordings from layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons within the ALM while mice performed a cued sensory association task. Here, a robust voltage response was evoked during the auditory cue, which was greater during incorrect premature behavior than during correct performance in the task. Optogenetically suppressing ALM during the cued sensory association task led to enhanced behavior, with fewer, and more delayed, premature responses and faster correct responses. Taken together, our findings extend the current known roles of the ALM, illustrating that ALM plays an important role in impulsive behavior by encoding and influencing premature motor output.

DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01198-z

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-022-01198-z