Clarification of developmental dysfunctional modifying mechanisms about motivation will-dynamics via neuron-glia interaction

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Creation and Promotion of the Will-Dynamics
• Project/Area Number: 16H06403
• 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: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: kato takahiro 九州大学, 大学病院, 講師 (70546465)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 牧之段 学 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (00510182) ; 境 泉洋 宮崎大学, 教育学部, 教授 (90399220)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-06-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 社会的ひきこもり / 現代うつ / モデルマウス / ミクログリア / オリゴデンロドサイト

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The increase in the number of young people with social withdrawal (hikikomori), who avoid going out and interacting with others for more than 6 months, and modern-type depression, which shows a different response to medication than traditional depression, has become a social problem. In this study, we developed assessment methods including diagnostic criteria for patients with these mental conditions. We have succeeded in preliminary identification of inflammation- and glial-related molecular basis as the biological basis of these disorders. We also developed a mouse model of hikikomori and identified several pathological bases by analyzing the neuron-glia interactions in the brain. Based on the findings of this study, we would like to develop new treatment methods for patients with hikikomori and modern-type depression.

Free Research Field

精神医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

発達障害などの発達素因に起因する病態の複雑化が報告されている。
こうした症候群の背景に「モチベーション（やる気）」の形成不全、減退およびそれらの障害が示唆されるものの十分には解明されておらず、実証的な研究が必要な状況にあった。