| Project/Area Number |
08454270
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
動物生理・代謝
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| Research Institution | KYUSHU UNIVERSITY |
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Principal Investigator |
TOH Yoshihiro KYUSHU UNIVERSITY,Faculty of Science, Proffesor, 理学部, 教授 (60037265)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
OKADA Jiro KYUSHU UNIVERSITY,Faculty of Science, Research assosiate, 理学部, 助手 (10284481)
水谷 明子 九州大学, 理学部, 助手 (80231611)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1996 – 1997
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 1997)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥7,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥7,500,000)
Fiscal Year 1997: ¥1,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000)
Fiscal Year 1996: ¥5,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,900,000)
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| Keywords | brain / neuron / insect / mushroom body / central body / learning / memory / 高次神経機構 / 神経解剖学 / 神経生理学 / 高次脳機能 / 嗅葉 |
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| Research Abstract |
1) In the present study structure of brain and learning behavior have been examined in several species of insects. Remarkable differences of the brain structures well as learning abilities could be found between hornets Vespa mandarinia, and cockroaches Periplaneta americana.
2) Field observation and laboratory experiments showed that during their forage flight hornets used multiple memory systems, which were memory of motor program, landmark guidance, wide field image matching, learning of pinpoint image of the feeder (goal). Cockroaches were also trained to perform some learning. However, their ability of learning seemed to be limited : they might perform some primitive associative learning. Poor learning ability of the cockroach appears quite reasonable, because they do not seem to need learning under natural habitat.
3) Anatomical comparison of the brain also showed clear differences between the hornet and the cockroach. Mushroom bodies, which are a pair of the largest compartments of the insect brain, were well developed and highly organized in the hornet as compared with those of the cockroach. There were no significant differences in relative size of other brain compartment such as central body and olfactory lobes between the two species.
4) These data suggest that the mushroom body in the insect brain is deeply concerned with higher brain function.
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