Investigation of nucleus accumbens subpopulations controlling reward and aversive learning
| Project/Area Number |
21K15210
|
|---|
| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
|
| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
|---|
| Review Section |
Basic Section 46030:Function of nervous system-related
|
|---|
| Research Institution | Osaka University |
|---|
Principal Investigator |
|
|---|
| Project Period (FY) |
2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
|
| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2022)
|
| Budget Amount *help |
¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥2,990,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥690,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
|
|---|
| Keywords | Reward / Aversion / Learning / Nucleus Accumbens / Basal Ganglia / In-vivo imaging / Optogenetics / In-Vivo Imaging / Behavior |
|---|
| Outline of Research at the Start |
Cutting-edge neural imaging technology will be used to investigate the cellular mechanisms controlling reward and aversion learning. Then, reward- and aversion-sensitive cells will be genetically profiled in order to reveal the molecular mechanisms that underly the functions of these cells.
|
| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
During this project, I was successful in using single-cell resolution in-vivo imaging and optogenetics to identify new subpopulations of nucleus accumbens cells that contribute to the signaling and reward and aversion, and can control reward and aversion-related behaviors. As a result of these exciting findings, i have now expanded the project further with the intention of publishing in a high-impact journal. This project has also directly contributed to data in several scientific papers that are now in submission or have been published, including one paper published in Nature Communications and another paper published in Frontiers in Neuroscience.
|
| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
Given that dysfunction of the NAc is associated with several psychiatric disorders charactorized by abnormal reward and aversion learning (including depression), these findings may provide new therapeutic targets for treatments of such conditions.
|
Report
(3 results)
Research Products
(8 results)
