Neural mechanisms of perceptual decision

• Project/Area Number: 17K13274
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Basic / Social brain science
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Abe Hiroshi 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 脳神経科学研究センター, 研究員 (10711161)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
• Keywords: 意思決定 / 霊長類 / カルシウムイメージング / マーモセット / 眼球運動 / 頭頂葉 / LIP / 前頭眼野 / 視覚 / サル / 解剖 / MT野 / トレーサー / 脳 / MT / 知覚 / 認知科学 / 脳・神経 / 神経科学 / 実験系心理学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I studied the neural mechanisms and anatomical projections related to decision-making using a small primate, Common Marmoset. one-photon imaging and two-photon imaging were performed to obtain calcium signals related to neural activity. In addition to injections of a virus encoding calcium sensor, viral tracers were injected to the parietal cortex. Animals were trained to perform several behavioral tasks using eye movements. By analyzing activity while performing the tasks, dorsal visual areas and area LIP were functionally identified. The imaging is still in progress. After its completion, anatomical projections will be studied by analyzing tracer signals in brain sections.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

マーモセットは脳溝が少ないことから、イメージング実験に適している。イメージング実験は、局所や広域の空間構造を可視化して調べることのできる実験手法であるが、従来マカクザルを用いる研究では困難だった。そこで、マーモセットが期待されている所、マカクザルと同様な実験課題を行えるかは不明だった。本研究では、マカクザルで用いられてきた意思決定課題をマーモセットでも訓練可能なことを示し、さらに、１光子ならびに２光子イメージングを用いて、その課題遂行中の神経活動の空間構造を明らかにすることに意義がある。加えて、記録部位の神経活動と、その神経投射様式の関連を明らかにすることに意義がある。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Axonal Projections From the Middle Temporal Area in the Common Marmoset (2018)
  • Author(s): Hiroshi Abe, Toshiki Tani, Hiromi Mashiko, Naohito Kitamura, Taku Hayami, Satoshi Watanabe, Kazuhisa Sakai, Wataru Suzuki, Hiroaki Mizukami, Akiya Watakabe, Tetsuo Yamamori and Noritaka Ichinohe
  • Journal Title: Frontiers in Neuroanatomy Volume: 12 Pages: 89-89
  • DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2018.00089
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Presentation] ワーキングメモリ課題遂行中のサル前頭前野皮質の機能構造 (2019)
  • Author(s): Abe, Song, Ju, Ichinohe, Tang
  • Organizer: 日本神経科学大会
• [Presentation] Cellular level functional structures in the prefrontal cortex of monkeys during working memory (2019)
  • Author(s): Abe, Song, Ju, Ichinohe, Tang
  • Organizer: Society for Neuroscience
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] マーモセットMT野の神経線維投射マップ (2018)
  • Author(s): Hiroshi Abe, Toshiki Tani, Hiromi Mashiko, Naohito Kitamura, Taku Hayami, Satoshi Watanabe, Kazuhisa Sakai, Wataru Suzuki, Hiroaki Mizukami, Akiya Watakabe, Tetsuo Yamamori and Noritaka Ichinohe
  • Organizer: 日本神経科学大会
• [Presentation] Axonal projections from area MT in the common marmoset (2018)
  • Author(s): Hiroshi Abe, Toshiki Tani, Hiromi Mashiko, Naohito Kitamura, Taku Hayami, Satoshi Watanabe, Kazuhisa Sakai, Wataru Suzuki, Hiroaki Mizukami, Akiya Watakabe, Tetsuo Yamamori and Noritaka Ichinohe
  • Organizer: Society for Neuroscience
  • Int'l Joint Research