Mathematical modeling and computer simulation of brain development regulated by interplay of time and space

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Interplay of developmental clock and extracellular environment in brain formation
• Project/Area Number: 16H06486
• 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: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Adachi Taiji 京都大学, ウイルス・再生医科学研究所, 教授 (40243323)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 亀尾 佳貴 京都大学, ウイルス・再生医科学研究所, 助教 (60611431) ; 武石 直樹 大阪大学, 基礎工学研究科, 助教 (30787669)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-06-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 脳・神経 / 発生・分化 / 細胞・組織 / 生物物理学 / 数理工学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To clarify the mechanism of brain development regulated by interplay of time and space, comprehensive understanding of the spatiotemporal mechanical behavior of brain tissues and the underlying multicellular dynamics is of great importance. Therefore, in this study, we have developed a mathematical model of brain morphogenesis that links tissue growth and deformation to cell proliferation and migration. The proposed mathematical model was validated through a reproduction of neuronal lamination in cerebral cortex. Then, this model was applied to the simulation of folia formation in cerebellar cortex to reveal the importance of fiber-guided neuronal migration. Furthermore, we proposed a novel approach to capture the overall view of mechanically admissible morphogenesis by describing the landscape of strain energy accumulated in the growing tissue.

Free Research Field

生体力学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で構築した脳形態形成の数理モデルは、多細胞の複雑な相互作用と、それにより生じる組織の時空間的な挙動をコンピュータ内で同時に解析するためのフレームワークであり、形態形成を通じて脳の複雑な構造と機能が創発されるメカニズムを力学的・生化学的観点から理解するための新しい研究アプローチを提供するものである。また、滑脳症や多小脳回をはじめ、脳の構造に異常をきたす脳神経疾患の原因究明や治療法の確立など、将来の臨床医療への多大な貢献が期待される。