Sensory-dependent mechanisms of establishment of cortical networks

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Dynamic regulation of brain function by Scrap & Build system
• Project/Area Number: 16H06460
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: National Institute for Physiological Sciences
• Principal Investigator: Yoshimura Yumiko 生理学研究所, 基盤神経科学研究領域, 教授 (10291907)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 山本 亘彦 大阪大学, 生命機能研究科, 教授 (00191429)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-06-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 大脳皮質 / 視覚野 / 体性感覚野 / 細胞系譜依存性シナプス結合 / 空間周波数選択性 / 神経活動同期性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Specific neuronal connections that underlie information processing in the sensory cortex are initially established without sensory experiences. Subsequently, the connections are refined through sensory experiences to develop appropriate function. We find that layer 4 excitatory neurons that arise from the same neural stem cell preferentially establish reciprocal synaptic connections in mouse barrel cortex. DNA methyltransferase 3b and clustered protocadherin are required for the establishment of lineage-specific reciprocal connections. We also find that synchronized firing occurs selectively in adjacent neurons sharing similar visual preferences in the upper layer of rat visual cortex. This feature-selective synchrony was rudimentary when the eyes opened and became prominent during the first few weeks after eye opening only in the presence of pattern vision. In addition, we find that visual experience is required for maturation of spatial-frequency preference in mouse visual cortex.

Free Research Field

神経生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では大脳皮質において、遺伝的なメカニズムに従い生後の経験に依存せずに成熟する機能と、生後の経験による調整を受けながら発達する機能の一端を明らかにした。モデル動物を用いた大脳皮質経験依存的発達メカニズムに関する本成果により、ヒトの脳機能発達メカニズムの理解に貢献できると考えられる。