| Budget Amount *help |
¥5,330,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,230,000)
Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Fiscal Year 2013: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000)
Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
We aimed to examine neural mechanisms of the effects of masticatory activity on cerebral functions, focusing on cholinergic vasodilator system originating in basal forebrain that is essential for cognition. In anesthetized rats, masseter muscle activity, regional cerebral cortical blood flow (rCBF) and cortical local field potential (LFP) were measured. Increase in rCBF was associated with an activation of masseter muscle and simultaneous desynchronization of cortical LFP. The rCBF response was preceded by excitation of basal forebrain neurons projecting to the cortex, and reduced by inactivation or lesion of the cholinergic nucleus. Increase in rCBF in association with an activation of motor neurons of masseter muscle was observed even after immobilization induced by administration of muscle relaxant. The results suggest that basal forebrain neurons were activated in association with masseter muscle activity, central command is involved in that activation.
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