Deep brain oscillation and motor control in primate and rodent models

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Non-linear Neuro-oscillology: Towards Integrative Understanding of Human Nature
• Project/Area Number: 15H05873
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Complex systems
• Research Institution: National Institute for Physiological Sciences
• Principal Investigator: Nambu Atsushi 生理学研究所, システム脳科学研究領域, 教授 (80180553)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-06-29 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 脳・神経 / 脳神経疾患 / ソフトコンピューティング / 神経科学 / 生理学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The brain, including our human brain, is filled with a variety of oscillatory activity. The brain seems to utilize oscillatory mechanisms to accomplish its normal functions. On the other hand, abnormal oscillatory activity is often observed in disease states, and may be closely related to disease mechanisms. Analyzing oscillatory activity is important not only to understand disease mechanisms, but also to cure diseases. We investigate the relationship between oscillations and brain functions in deep brain structures, such as basal ganglia, and its relation to pathophysiology of neurological disorders using non-human primates and rodents. We investigated (1)Mechanism of voluntary movement control by oscillation and information transmission in the basal ganglia: cortico-basal ganglia information processing including somatotopy and center-surround organization, and (2)Pathophysiologcal mechanism of basal ganglia disorders and oscillation, especially Parkinson’s disease and dyskinesia.

Free Research Field

神経生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

精神・神経疾患の病態も神経情報の異常な流れから解釈しようというネットワーク病という考えも、根付いてきたように思う。とくにパーキンソン病やジスキネジアの病態理解をネットワーク病という概念で理解することができた。また、それをもとに特定の経路を操作することで、これら疾患の治療法に関するヒントも得られた。これら治療法に関して、今後、ヒトへの応用に向けて、サルなどを用いた動物実験による検証を行いたい。