Swarm intelligence of new neurons: understanding behaviors for efficient regeneration

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Heterogeneous swarm intelligence: Innovative design of swarm intelligence inspired by collective behavior of variety of cells
• Project/Area Number: 21H05106
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Transformative Research Areas, Section (II)
• Research Institution: Doshisha University (2022-2023); Nagoya City University (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Kaneko Naoko 同志社大学, 脳科学研究科, 教授 (20464571)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-23 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 脳室下帯 / 細胞移動 / アストロサイト / 数理モデル / 神経再生

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Immature new neurons produced in the ventricular-subventricular zone within the adult brain migrate at high speed over long distances and contribute to the regeneration of neural circuits after brain injury. These new neurons form elongated clusters like chains, within which they move over and past one another. This unique mode of migration is thought to be essential for migration in the adult brain tissue, but the relationship between individual behavior in cell groups and behavior as a population has been unclear. In this study, we analyzed the behavior of individual cells in a population in detail by live imaging of newborn neurons migrating in a swarm and by using a highly abstract mathematical model. It was suggested that the diversity and heterogeneity of the behavior of newborn neurons in a swarm contributes to the efficiency of migration as a swarm.

Free Research Field

神経化学・神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

再生能力の低い霊長類の脳において、数少ない新生ニューロンの移動を効率化させることは、内在性の細胞を用いた傷害の再生に不可欠である。これまで個々の細胞の挙動を制御するメカニズムについては知見が蓄積されてきたが、集団としての移動制御に関しては非常に知見が乏しい。本研究で、集団内でシンクロしない新生ニューロンの個々の挙動のヘテロ性が集団としての移動効率の向上に重要であることが示唆された。これらの成果は、脳疾患の再生医学的アプローチ開発に有用である。