Description du projet
Manipuler les substances chimiques du cerveau pour renforcer la résilience dans un monde en pleine mutation
Le contrôle cognitif permet un comportement adaptatif flexible impliquant un effort calculé pour inhiber les biais non désirés associés au cortex préfrontal et à la dopamine (DA). Cependant, les mécanismes du contrôle cognitif flexible élargi demeurent un mystère. Le projet CHEMCONTROL, financé par l’UE, vise à présenter le concept de prise de décision au niveau méta entre différentes stratégies de contrôle. CHEMCONTROL mettra en exergue la valeur des biais pavloviens programmés sans effort sur le plan cognitif, qui font intervenir la sérotonine (5-HT). Le projet entend jeter un éclairage sur les mécanismes qui stimulent le métacontrôle et proposer des stratégies révolutionnaires favorisant la résilience dans un environnement hautement volatile.
Objectif
Cognitive control enables us to flexibly adapt behaviour to achieve our goals given a constantly changing environment. It is a hallmark of the human mind and exquisitely vulnerable in health and disease. Cognitive control often implies goal-directed instrumental effort to inhibit unwanted, yet hardwired or overlearnt biases, and is commonly associated with the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and dopamine (DA). However, the mechanisms of the broader construct of flexible cognitive control remain unclear. The urgency of addressing this is evidenced by robust predictive associations between flexible control and consequential life outcomes for health, wealth and well-being.
CHEMCONTROL approaches the problem from a novel angle, reconceptualizing it as meta-level decision-making between distinct control strategies. I propose to shift attention away from the classic focus on instrumental effort, implicating PFC and DA, towards a richer meta-control framework that takes into account outcome controllability. CHEMCONTROL radically upgrades the value of an opponent, cognitively effortless strategy that releases hardwired Pavlovian biases, implicating serotonin (5-HT). It redefines PFC function as making meta-level decisions between expensive dopaminergic versus frugal serotonergic strategies based on estimating outcome controllability.
We have recently validated a computational procedure for quantifying controllability estimates. I will combine this procedure with (i) high-resolution fMRI to compare neural activity in DA and 5-HT systems and (ii) novel PET designs to compare DA and 5-HT release. Next, I will use (iii) psychopharmacology and (iv) ultrasound neuromodulation, to causally manipulate key model components. CHEMCONTROL will unravel the mechanisms of (boosting) meta-control, revolutionizing strategies for promoting efficacy and resilience in a rapidly changing world.
Mots‑clés
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Thème(s)
Appel à propositions
(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) ERC-2021-ADG
Voir d’autres projets de cet appelRégime de financement
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsInstitution d’accueil
6525 GA Nijmegen
Pays-Bas