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Investigation of nucleus accumbens subpopulations controlling reward and aversive learning

Research Project

Project/Area Number 21K15210
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Review Section Basic Section 46030:Function of nervous system-related
Research InstitutionOsaka University

Principal Investigator

Macpherson Tom  大阪大学, 蛋白質研究所, 助教 (40821898)

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)
KeywordsReward / 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)
  • 2022 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2021 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (8 results)

All 2023 2022 2021

All Journal Article (3 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 1 results,  Peer Reviewed: 3 results,  Open Access: 3 results) Presentation (5 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 1 results,  Invited: 5 results)

  • [Journal Article] Error-related signaling in nucleus accumbens D2 receptor-expressing neurons guides inhibition-based choice behavior in mice2023

    • Author(s)
      Nishioka Tadaaki、Attachaipanich Suthinee、Hamaguchi Kosuke、Lazarus Michael、de Kerchove d’Exaerde Alban、Macpherson Tom、Hikida Takatoshi
    • Journal Title

      Nature Communications

      Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Pages: 2284-2284

    • DOI

      10.1038/s41467-023-38025-3

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Nucleus Accumbens Core Dopamine D2 Receptor-Expressing Neurons Control Reversal Learning but Not Set-Shifting in Behavioral Flexibility in Male Mice2022

    • Author(s)
      Macpherson Tom、Kim Ji Yoon、Hikida Takatoshi
    • Journal Title

      Frontiers in Neuroscience

      Volume: 16 Pages: 885380-885380

    • DOI

      10.3389/fnins.2022.885380

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Importin α3 (KPNA3) Deficiency Augments Effortful Reward-Seeking Behavior in Mice2022

    • Author(s)
      Aomine Yoshiatsu、Sakurai Koki、Macpherson Tom、Ozawa Takaaki、Miyamoto Yoichi、Yoneda Yoshihiro、Oka Masahiro、Hikida Takatoshi
    • Journal Title

      Frontiers in Neuroscience

      Volume: 16 Pages: 1-13

    • DOI

      10.3389/fnins.2022.905991

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Presentation] Cell-type-specific control of reward and aversive signaling in the Nucleus Accumbens2023

    • Author(s)
      Tom Macpherson
    • Organizer
      Physiological Society of Japan (PSJ) Meeting 2023
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] Striatal mechanisms of discrimination learning and their dysfunction in schizophrenia model mice2022

    • Author(s)
      Tom Macpherson
    • Organizer
      Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Meeting 2022
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] Neural mechanisms in reward and aversion signaling2022

    • Author(s)
      Tom Macpherson
    • Organizer
      Japan Neuroscience Society (JNS) Meeting 2022
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] Neural mechanisms in reward and aversion signaling2022

    • Author(s)
      Tom Macpherson
    • Organizer
      National Institute of Physiological Science (NIPS) Emotion Conference
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] Neural Mechanisms in Reward and Aversion2021

    • Author(s)
      Tom Macpherson
    • Organizer
      Osaka University Institute for Protein Research Symposium
    • Related Report
      2021 Research-status Report
    • Invited

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Published: 2021-04-28   Modified: 2024-01-30  

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