Regulatory mechanisms of reward, aversivion, and decision-making

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Elucidation of neural computation for prediction and decision making: toward better human understanding and applications
• Project/Area Number: 23120011
• 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: Kyoto University (2012-2015); Osaka Bioscience Institute (2011)
• Principal Investigator: HIKIDA Takatoshi 京都大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (70421378)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): YAWATA SATOSHI 京都大学, 健康長寿社会の総合医療開発ユニット, 特定助教 (90455246) ; NAKANISHI SHIGETADA 公益財団法人大阪バイオサイエンス研究所, システムズ生物学部門, 所長 (20089105)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 大脳基底核 / 神経回路 / 報酬行動 / 忌避行動 / 可塑性 / 意思決定 / ドーパミン受容体 / 学習

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We analyzed neural circuit mechanisms in reward and aversion, and decision-making, using reversible neurotransmission blocking technique, in which neurotransmission of the direct and indirect striatal pathways was selectively and reversibly blocked. We showed that the activation of dopamine D1 receptors in the nucleus accumbens direct pathway neurons and the inactivation of potsynaptic dopamine D2 receptors in the nucleus accumbens indirect pathway neurons control reward and aversive behavior, respectively. Furthermore, we have revealed that reward and aversive behavior is regulated by pathway-specific neural plasticity via selective transmitter receptors and intracellular signaling in the basal ganglia circuit.

Free Research Field

神経科学、精神医学