John R Anderson - US grants

The broad objectives are to determine the life cycle of Lambornella clarki, (Tetrahymenidae: Ciliophora), to study its natural distribution and infection rates , and to assess its potential as a manipulated biological control agent of the western treehole mosquito, Aedes sierrensis. We also plan to establish L. clarki experimentally in known L. clarki-negative treeholes. Specific lab objectives include development of an in vivo culture system for L. clarki, determining how L. clarki survives in dried-out treeholes between winter rainy seasons, its pathogenesis for larval and adult Ae. sierrenis, and its infectivity and pathogenesis for other mosquito species. The long-term objective include development of an in vitro culture system for L. clarki, and to ultimately develop techniques of laboratory mass-production, storage, and field inoculation of treeholes. Mosquito immatures will be collected from marked treeholes each month and reared under various environmental conditions in labs at Berkeley. Mowquitoes emerging from L. clarki-positive treeholes will be collected in traps and in cages over lab rearing containers. Pathogenesis of L. clarki infections will be studied by phase, SEM and EM study. Some of the spore-like, dessication resistant cysts found in dead larvae will be prepared for microscopic examination, and other such cysts will be treated in different ways and later flooded with treehole water with and without larval rearing factors, etc., and others held to study longevity, mode of infection, etc. Laboratory mass production and field application of this mosquito pathogen could result in the successful use of a biological control agent with excellent potential for self-persistence in treated treeholes. Treeholes and similar container-type mosquito habitats represent breeding sites for some of the most effective mosquito vectors of important human pathogens (e.g. Ae. aegypti and Yellow Fever and Dengue Fever, Ae. polynesiensis and Filariasis, Ae. albopictus and Dengue, and Ae. sierrensis is related to its role as a vector of the dog health importance of Ae. triseriatus and LaCrosse Virus. In California, the known public health importance of Ae. sierrensis is related to its role as a vector of the dog heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) and the deer body worm (Setaria yehi), both of which occasionally infect humans. It also is a major biting pest of humans in wooded backyards, etc.

The broad objectives are to further illucidate the life cycle of Lambornella clarki, (Tetrahymenidae: Ciliphora) and to assess its potential as a manipulated biological control agent of the western treehole mosquito, Aedes sierrensis, and related mosquitoes. We also plan to establish L. clarki in known L. clarki-negative treeholes and to determine factors influencing infection rates and persistence in mosquito breeding sites. Specific laboratory objectives include determining environmental and physiological cues that stimulate encystation and excystation, determining how long cysts remain viable, and studying L. clarki and its pathogenesis for Ae. sierrensis and other mosquito species. The long-term objectives include development of an in vitro culture system for L. clarki, and ultimately development of techniques in laboratory mass-production, storage, and field inoculation of treeholes. Dispersal of the parasite by infected adults will be quantified under field conditions. Laboratory colonies will be used to study interrelationships between L. clarki and other pathogens. Laboratory mass production and field application of this mosquito pathogen could result in the successful use of a biological control agent with excellent potential for persistence in aquatic habitats of container-breeding mosquitoes. Container-type mosquito habitas are breeding sites for some of the most effective mosquito vectors of important human pathogens (e.g. Ae. aegypti and Yellow Fever and Dengue Fever, Ae. polynesiensis and Filariasis, Ae. albopictus and Dengue, and Ae. triseriatus and LaCrosse Virus). In California, Ae. sierrensis is a major biting pest, and it is a known vector of dog heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) and the deer body worm (Setaria yehi), both of which occasionally infect humans.

The principle methodology of this research has been to develop computer simulations of the representations and mechanisms of human cognition. My research has taken a new direction which is characterized as being focused on how the mechanisms of the human mind are adapted to structure of the environment. I am currently pursuing a thesis called "The principle of rationality" which proposed that the mechanisms of the mind are optimized to the environment. A book is being completed (Anderson, in press) that develops this thesis successfully for relatively simple areas of human cognition such as basic memory and simple concept formation. The purpose of this award is to allow sufficient time to acquire the training required to effectively pursue this analysis for the more complex areas of problem solving and language. The first three years will be spent acquiring a sophisticated background in Bayesian decision theory. The last three years (overlapping in one year) will be spent retraining myself as to the current state of linguistics. In parallel with this, a rational theory of problem solving will be developed. This theory will combine an analysis of the probability of causal extrapolations involved in problem solving with the cost of various paths of problem solving. It will attempt to explain both the logic and control of problem solving as an optimization that responds to the combined consideration of probability and cost.

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this project is to use brain imaging and cognitive architectures to mutually inform one another. A framework has been developed to map the processes in a cognitive architecture onto the BOLD function obtained in fMRI imaging. Given an assignment of processes to brain regions it is possible to make a priori predictions about the exact form of the BOLD function obtained in these regions across a range of tasks. This can serve as the link that enables fMRI imaging to provide novel tests of any well specified theory of cognitive processing theory and to direct the future development of that theory. More specifically, the research will look at predictions of the ACT-R theory for four general cognitive domains. The first involves algebraic string manipulation tasks for which the theory has already been substantially tested with respect to its simultaneous predictions for a motor area, a posterior parietal imagery area, and a prefrontal retrieval area. The second involves various goal-manipulation tasks for which the expectation is that dorsolateral prefrontal regions will be active during subgoaling. The third involves a set of retrieval tasks involving the fan effect for which the expectation is that the results will elaborate the mapping of the ACT-R theory onto prefrontal retrieval regions. In addition to directing the development of the ACT-R theory this research will serve to develop the conceptual tools for using fMRI research to study higher-level cognitive functioning. Advancing the mapping of brain imaging to higher-level cognitive function is important for many applications including health-related efforts such as understanding the basis of cognitive dysfunctions. [unreadable] [unreadable]

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): PROJECT SUMMARY Cyber Mentors: A Sustainable Model for Developing Minority HIV Researchers The Cyber Mentors: A Sustainable Model for Developing Minority HIV Researchers project is designed to develop an innovative and sustainable research mentorship program to prepare promising researchers who have not yet received R01 level funding, and who are either from underrepresented groups and/or are interested in HIV/AIDS research with racial and ethnic groups that are overrepresented with HIV/AIDS, to develop successful independent careers in HIV/AIDS prevention research. The program will utilize state of the art distance learning technologies to prepare mentees to submit a high quality NIH grant application and to facilitate developing professional relationships with senior-level mentors to support their research efforts. Three cohorts of 15 mentee/mentor pairs will participate in the two-year mentorship program over the course of three years. The focus of the third and final cohort, which will begin in Year 3 and continue after the end of the funding period, will be on demonstrating the sustainability of the program. The Cyber Mentors program will match mentees with volunteer mentors who are leaders in the field of HIV/AIDS, research who have a track record of receiving NIH-supported R01 grants. One-on-one mentoring, which will take place via phone, email, and face-to-face meetings, will have two general goals: 1) developing and implementing a career development plan focused on building the strengths of the mentee to conduct independent research, and 2) developing and submitting a high quality research funding application to NIH. Mentee/mentor pairs will be provided with up to $5,000 to support research or career development activities (e.g., preliminary data collection, attending conferences and workshops, purchasing needed research hardware and software etc.). In addition to one-on-one mentoring, mentees will participate in a sequenced series of online career development seminars and small group discussions. Seminars will cover various research, methodology, and administrative topics relevant to research careers. At bimonthly small group workshops, mentees will then apply the concepts and skills learned in the seminars into developing their own proposals. Mentees will also participate in two mock peer reviews where their grant applications will be reviewed by outside experts and scored, with feedback in these mock sessions mimicking NIH review. Mentees will revise their proposals in response to the mock review and resubmit the revised proposal for a second round of mock review. By the end of the two-year mentorship period, mentees in the Cyber Mentors program will: (1) assess their capacity to submit a high-quality grant application and their capacity to conduct a successful career as an HIV/AIDS researcher; (2) develop and implement a career development plan to address relative weaknesses identified during the self-assessment process; (3) identify an NIH funding mechanism through which they will apply for funding; and, (4) draft a high-quality research proposal to be submitted to NIH in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention with racial and ethnic groups that are overrepresented with HIV/AIDS. [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable]

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this project is to use fMRI brain imaging to understand the organization and acquisition of complex cognitive abilities. Components of the ACT-R cognitive architecture, which is capable of modeling complex cognitive abilities, have been mapped on different brain regions. A methodology has been developed for taking the activities of these components and making predictions for the BOLD response obtained in these areas from fMRI imaging. Recent developments have also enabled such tests to be applied in the face of high variability in the timing of individual components. The proposed research is intended to further develop the mapping between components of the ACT-R theory and to extend the work to understand the structure of complex tasks. Three classes of experiments are proposed. First, experiments will be performed to test predictions about a prefrontal region associated with declarative retrieval, a parietal region associated with mental representation, and an anterior cingulate region associated with control. The second group of experiments are designed to extend and modify the ACT-R theory. They will examine whether the response of an anterior prefrontal region can guide the development of a metacognitive component in ACT-R and whether the ACT-T theory of the dorsal caudate should be amended to include effects of reinforcement learning. The third class of experiments will test the decomposition hypothesis -- that the processes in large task consist of the same components as are revealed in smaller tasks. A complex radar-screen task will be investigated to see if the activation patterns in this task can be predicted from the behavior of individual components of the ACT-R theory. It will also be studied to identify further directions for the development of the cognitive architecture. In addition to advancing understanding of complex cognition this research will serve to develop the methodology for using fMRI research to study higher-level cognitive functioning. Advancing the mapping of fMRI brain imaging to higher-level cognitive function is important for many applications including health-related efforts such as understanding the basis of cognitive dysfunctions. For instance, many theories of autism relate it to the coordination of different brain regions in service of intellectual goals. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE Advancing the mapping of fMRI brain imaging to higher-level cognitive function is important for many applications including health-related efforts such as understanding the basis of cognitive dysfunctions. For instance, many theories of autism relate it to the coordination of different brain regions in service of intellectual goals.