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Common processes between imitation and empathy: how reward system reinforces mirror neuron system?

Research Project

Project/Area Number 20H00105
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Review Section Medium-sized Section 10:Psychology and related fields
Research InstitutionTeikyo University (2022-2023)
The University of Tokyo (2020-2021)

Principal Investigator

Okanoya Kazuo  帝京大学, 先端総合研究機構, 教授 (30211121)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 池渕 万季  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 (20398994)
橘 亮輔  東京大学, 大学院総合文化研究科, 特任准教授 (50610929)
柳原 真  帝京大学, 先端総合研究機構, 講師 (60392156)
Project Period (FY) 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2023)
Budget Amount *help
¥45,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥35,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥10,500,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥8,710,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,010,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥8,190,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,890,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥8,190,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,890,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥20,410,000 (Direct Cost: ¥15,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥4,710,000)
Keywordsミラーニューロン / ラット / ジュウシマツ / 報酬 / 発声学習 / 情動伝染 / ドパミン / コミュニケーション / 報酬系 / 超音波発声 / 鳥類 / げっ歯類 / 模倣 / 共感 / ロシア人形モデル / 模倣学習 / 情動系 / 基底核 / 聴覚 / 発声 / 帯状回
Outline of Research at the Start

模倣と共感がどちらも生得的な知覚運動メカニズムとして捉えられるという指摘は早くからなされてきたが、これを実証しようとした研究は少ない。本研究は、小鳥の歌学習とラットの情動伝染をそれぞれ模倣と共感の原初的なモデルとして、神経回路から行動のレベルまで、それらの共通点を探ろうとするものである。仮説として、「模倣も共感も、ミラーニューロンと報酬系のドパミン神経細胞とが密に接続することで生起する」を提案する。本研究はコミュニケーション行動の生物心理学的基盤を与えることとなろう。

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We explored the neural mechanisms common to song learning in birds and emotional contagion in rats as primitive models of imitation and empathy. The process of birds learning songs is a form of vocal imitation learning. Using histochemical methods, we identified cells in the basal ganglia that respond to both auditory and vocal stimuli, and found tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) nearby. Rats emit specific vocalizations under both positive and negative emotional states, and they exhibit approach or avoidance behaviors, indicating empathy-like responses. We demonstrated that neurons in the rat anterior cingulate cortex respond to these vocalizations and that TH is also expressed in this region. These findings suggest that mirror neuron-like cells, reinforced by the dopaminergic system, are shared mechanisms underlying both imitation and empathy.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

模倣と共感は、ヒトを含む多くの動物の円滑な社会生活に必要な能力である。従来これらは個別に研究されており、共通基盤があることは想定されていなかった。本研究では、ジュウシマツの歌学習を模倣のモデルに、ラットの快不快音声への応答を共感のモデルとした。生物心理学的研究から、どちらの過程にも感覚と運動を統合するミラーニューロンと呼ばれる神経細胞があり、また、その神経細胞はドパミンを中心とする脳の報酬系によって強化を受けていることがわかった。本研究はコミュニケーションの基盤として模倣、共感、報酬があることを示た点で学術的な意義があり、コミュニケーション研究の今後の方向性を示した点で社会的意義がある。

Report

(5 results)
  • 2023 Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2022 Annual Research Report
  • 2021 Annual Research Report
  • 2020 Comments on the Screening Results   Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (42 results)

All 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019

All Journal Article (17 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 5 results,  Peer Reviewed: 16 results,  Open Access: 14 results) Presentation (24 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 9 results,  Invited: 3 results) Funded Workshop (1 results)

  • [Journal Article] Song-related brain auditory activity in Bengalese finches as examined by immediate early gene expressions: class FormattedString { value: Comparison of arousal states and the correlational analyses between brain regions }2023

    • Author(s)
      Iizuka Takafumi、Mori Chihiro、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Journal Title

      Neuroscience Research

      Volume: 192 Pages: 56

    • DOI

      10.1016/j.neures.2023.01.014

    • URL

      https://localhost/en/publications/25d3f41a-cf51-448a-99ed-b5c3d7ec7e70

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Song Preference in Female and Juvenile Songbirds: class FormattedString { value: Proximate and Ultimate Questions }2022

    • Author(s)
      Fujii Tomoko G.、Coulter Austin、Lawley Koedi S.、Prather Jonathan F.、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Journal Title

      Frontiers in Physiology

      Volume: 13 Pages: 876205-876205

    • DOI

      10.3389/fphys.2022.876205

    • URL

      https://localhost/en/publications/47bbe637-8293-4f20-900e-92d1c3c5bad2

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Auditory and sexual preferences for a father’s song can co-emerge in female Bengalese finches2022

    • Author(s)
      Fujii Tomoko G.、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Journal Title

      PLOS ONE

      Volume: 17 Issue: 3 March Pages: e0254302-e0254302

    • DOI

      10.1371/journal.pone.0254302

    • URL

      https://pure.teikyo.jp/en/publications/4aeb06e7-c7a3-4232-8de6-42f74c8f0e95

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Acoustic parameters related to behavioral discrimination of emotional vocalizations in Java Sparrows2022

    • Author(s)
      Furutani Akari、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Journal Title

      ORNITHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

      Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Pages: 177-187

    • DOI

      10.2326/osj.21.177

    • ISSN
      1347-0558
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Durations of preparatory motor activity in the avian basal ganglia for songs and calls in a species of songbirds2022

    • Author(s)
      Umemoto Sachio、Yanagihara Shin、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Journal Title

      Neuroscience Research

      Volume: 181 Pages: 66

    • DOI

      10.1016/j.neures.2022.03.008

    • URL

      https://pure.teikyo.jp/en/publications/6571cd66-7d83-43cc-952d-57a971ca4a21

    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Neural correlates of vocal initiation in the VTA/SNc of juvenile male zebra finches2021

    • Author(s)
      Yanagihara Shin、Ikebuchi Maki、Mori Chihiro、Tachibana Ryosuke O.、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Journal Title

      Scientific Reports

      Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Pages: 22388-22388

    • DOI

      10.1038/s41598-021-01955-3

    • URL

      https://localhost/en/publications/7827123a-b9fd-4646-b9bb-c7fbe162448e

    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Biased learning of sexual signals by female Bengalese Finches2020

    • Author(s)
      Caspani Giorgia、Fujii Tomoko G.、Mizuhara Tomoko、Gilman R. Tucker、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Journal Title

      ORNITHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

      Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Pages: 3-14

    • DOI

      10.2326/osj.19.3

    • NAID

      130007792190

    • ISSN
      1347-0558
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Fast Retrograde Access to Projection Neuron Circuits Underlying Vocal Learning in Songbirds2020

    • Author(s)
      During Daniel N.、Dittrich Falk、Rocha Mariana D.、Tachibana Ryosuke O.、Mori Chihiro、Okanoya Kazuo、Boehringer Roman、Ehret Benjamin、Grewe Benjamin F.、Gerber Stefan、Ma Shouwen、Rauch Melanie、Paterna Jean-Charles、Kasper Robert、Gahr Manfred、Hahnloser Richard H.R.
    • Journal Title

      Cell Reports

      Volume: 33 Issue: 6 Pages: 108364-108364

    • DOI

      10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108364

    • URL

      https://localhost/en/publications/730f94a7-75de-4519-ade1-4a3335f313ea

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Different Reactions of Zebra Finches and Bengalese Finches to a Three-Component Mixture of Anesthetics2020

    • Author(s)
      Ikebuchi M, Okanoya K and Bischof, H-J
    • Journal Title

      Zoological Science

      Volume: 37 Issue: 2 Pages: 159-167

    • DOI

      10.2108/zs190055

    • NAID

      210000174406

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Variation in auditory neural activation in response to strain-specific songs in wild and domesticated female Bengalese finches2020

    • Author(s)
      Kagawa Hiroko、Kato Yoko、Suzuki Kenta、Kato Masaki、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Journal Title

      Behavioural Brain Research

      Volume: 395 Pages: 112840-112840

    • DOI

      10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112840

    • URL

      https://localhost/en/publications/051926ad-6cca-4c9c-a691-69c3dbba2841

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Do songbirds hear songs syllable by syllable?2020

    • Author(s)
      Mizuhara Tomoko、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Journal Title

      Behavioural Processes

      Volume: 174 Pages: 104089-104089

    • DOI

      10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104089

    • URL

      https://localhost/en/publications/c74cc2d6-0b36-4514-8a39-f197771f8cad

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] USVSEG: A robust method for segmentation of ultrasonic vocalizations in rodents2020

    • Author(s)
      Tachibana Ryosuke O.、Kanno Kouta、Okabe Shota、Kobayasi Kohta I.、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Journal Title

      PLOS ONE

      Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Pages: 1-16

    • DOI

      10.1371/journal.pone.0228907

    • URL

      https://pure.teikyo.jp/en/publications/0fe7a9d6-d311-46af-aac5-253918586d81

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] How vocal temporal parameters develop: a comparative study between humans and songbirds, two distantly related vocal learners2020

    • Author(s)
      Takahasi Miki、Okanoya Kazuo、Mazuka Reiko
    • Journal Title

      Journal of Language Evolution

      Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Pages: 26-36

    • DOI

      10.1093/jole/lzaa008

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Unconscious and Distinctive Control of Vocal Pitch and Timbre During Altered Auditory Feedback2020

    • Author(s)
      Xu Mingdi、Tachibana Ryosuke O.、Okanoya Kazuo、Hagiwara Hiroko、Hashimoto Ryu-ichiro、Homae Fumitaka
    • Journal Title

      Frontiers in Psychology

      Volume: 11 Pages: 1-15

    • DOI

      10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01224

    • URL

      https://pure.teikyo.jp/en/publications/e715bcbd-cd8c-446c-9768-17c3237bedf5

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Arousal State-Dependent Alterations in Neural Activity in the Zebra Finch VTA/SNc2020

    • Author(s)
      Yanagihara Shin、Ikebuchi Maki、Mori Chihiro、Tachibana Ryosuke O.、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Journal Title

      Frontiers in Neuroscience

      Volume: 14 Pages: 897-897

    • DOI

      10.3389/fnins.2020.00897

    • URL

      https://pure.teikyo.jp/en/publications/620a9df2-321c-4916-90bc-f0d7373567d0

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Spontaneous variability predicts adaptive motor response in vocal pitch control2020

    • Author(s)
      Tachibana Ryosuke O.、Xu Mingdi、Hashimoto Ryu-ichiro、Homae Fumitaka、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Journal Title

      bioRxiv

      Volume: - Pages: 1-21

    • DOI

      10.1101/2020.06.06.138263

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Distributed representation of discrete sequential vocalization in the Bengalese finch (Lonchura striata var. domestica)2019

    • Author(s)
      Koumura Takuya、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Journal Title

      Bioacoustics

      Volume: 29 Issue: 3 Pages: 356

    • DOI

      10.1080/09524622.2019.1607558

    • URL

      https://pure.teikyo.jp/en/publications/665233c8-5dff-448a-ac27-6b516921e83d

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Presentation] 鳴禽類の大脳基底核には聴覚発声ニューロンが存在する2022

    • Author(s)
      鈴木祐佳、柳原真、岡ノ谷一夫
    • Organizer
      音声言語情報処理研究会・音声研究会・音楽情報科学研究会「音楽シンポジウム2022」
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] ジュウシマツの大脳基底核における聴覚発声ニューロン2022

    • Author(s)
      鈴木祐佳、柳原真、岡ノ谷一夫
    • Organizer
      第45回日本神経科学大会
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] ジュウシマツの大脳基底核には聴覚発声ミラーニューロンが存在する2022

    • Author(s)
      鈴木祐佳、柳原真、岡ノ谷一夫
    • Organizer
      第46回鳥類内分泌研究会
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Audio-vocal mirror neuron in the songbird basal ganglia2022

    • Author(s)
      Suzuki Yuka、Yanagihara Shin、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Organizer
      Joint Conference on Language Evolution
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Initiating learned vocalization is preceded by long ramping in neural activity in basal ganglia in a species of songbird2022

    • Author(s)
      Umemoto Sachio、Yanagihara Shin、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Organizer
      Joint Conference on Language Evolution
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Role of midbrain dopaminergic system in social enhancement of vocal learning in songbird2022

    • Author(s)
      Yanagihara Shin、Ikebuchi Maki、Mori Chihiro、Tachibana Ryosuke、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Organizer
      Joint Conference on Language Evolution
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Song complexity and auditory perception in Bengalese finches2022

    • Author(s)
      Okanoya Kazuo
    • Organizer
      International Ornithological Congress 2022 (28th IOC)
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] The other-origin theory of mind2022

    • Author(s)
      Okanoya Kazuo
    • Organizer
      Workshop on Life Mind Continuity
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Effect of Environmental Richness on Responsiveness of Rats to Species-Specific Emotional Calls2022

    • Author(s)
      Minamii Marika、Saito Yumi、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Organizer
      Joint Conference on Language Evolution
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Song-related auditory-motor neurons in Bngalese finch's basal ganglia: analyses using temporal difference of gene expression2022

    • Author(s)
      Iizuka Takafumi、Mori Chihiro、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Organizer
      Joint Conference on Language Evolution
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 鳥類の聴覚と発声2022

    • Author(s)
      岡ノ谷一夫
    • Organizer
      電子情報通信学会(音声言語情報処理研究会・音声研究会・音楽情報科学研究会「音楽シンポジウム2022」)
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] コミュニケーション行動から探る動物の心2022

    • Author(s)
      岡ノ谷一夫
    • Organizer
      NTT コミュニケーション科学基礎研究所 オープンハウス2022
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] What Can We Learn from Bird Songs and Rat Tweets?2022

    • Author(s)
      Okanoya Kazuo
    • Organizer
      Joint Conference on Language Evolution
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] Neural representation of vocal initiation in the zebra finch VTA/SNc2021

    • Author(s)
      Yanagihara Shin、Ikebuchi Maki、Mori Chihiro、Tachibana Ryosuke O.、Okanoya Kazuo
    • Organizer
      第44回日本神経科学大会
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 鳴禽を対象とした社会的報酬による発声オペラント条件づけ2021

    • Author(s)
      橘亮輔、池渕万季、岡ノ谷一夫、柳原真
    • Organizer
      日本音響学会聴覚研究会
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Operant control of songbird's vocal production with social reward2021

    • Author(s)
      Tachibana Ryosuke O.、Ikebuchi Maki、Okanoya Kazuo、Yanagihara Shin
    • Organizer
      日本動物心理学会第81回大会
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Operant conditioning of songbird's vocalization with social reward2020

    • Author(s)
      橘亮輔・池渕万季・岡ノ谷一夫・柳原真
    • Organizer
      日本動物心理学会第80回大会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Sexual imprinting on father's song in female Bengalese finches2020

    • Author(s)
      藤井朋子・池渕万季・岡ノ谷一夫
    • Organizer
      日本動物心理学会第80回大会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] A computational modeling of metacognition in rats2020

    • Author(s)
      外谷弦太・結城笙子・岡ノ谷一夫
    • Organizer
      日本動物心理学会第80回大会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Examination of action co-representation during joint task in rats2020

    • Author(s)
      勝野吏子・岡ノ谷一夫
    • Organizer
      日本動物心理学会第80回大会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] How Bengalese finches discriminate conspecific faces in various angles2020

    • Author(s)
      Wei Chen・岡ノ谷一夫
    • Organizer
      日本動物心理学会第80回大会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Do rats recognize identical relation of visual stimuli?2020

    • Author(s)
      上條槙子・岡ノ谷一夫
    • Organizer
      日本動物心理学会第80回大会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 鳴禽類の発声開始に関わる中脳腹側被蓋野・黒質の神経活動2020

    • Author(s)
      柳原真・池渕万季・森千紘・橘亮輔・岡ノ谷一夫
    • Organizer
      第44回鳥類内分泌研究会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] ジュウシマツのメスにおける父親歌への性的刷り込み2020

    • Author(s)
      藤井朋子・池渕万季・岡ノ谷一夫
    • Organizer
      第44回鳥類内分泌研究会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Funded Workshop] Joint Conference on Language Evolution2022

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report

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Published: 2020-04-28   Modified: 2025-01-30  

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