2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Functional dynamics of the cortical network regulating emotion and attention
| Project Area | Mechanisms underlying the functional shift of brain neural circuitry for behavioral adaptation |
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| Project/Area Number |
26112009
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Review Section |
Biological Sciences
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| Research Institution | Tohoku University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
臼井 信男 東京医科歯科大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 助教 (40752118)
泰羅 雅登 東京医科歯科大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 教授 (50179397)
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| Research Collaborator |
HOSOKAWA Takayuki
NAKAMURA Shinya
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| Project Period (FY) |
2014-07-10 – 2019-03-31
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| Keywords | 神経科学 / 経頭蓋磁気刺激 / ニホンザル |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
To elucidate the dynamics of cortical network for attention and emotion control, we conducted the manipulation of local brain activity by repetitive transcranial stimulation (rTMS), and the wide-range simultaneous electrophysiological recordings. Concerning the attention control and working memory, we dissociated the function of the dorsolateral prefrontal and dorsal premotor cortices, each being involved in the sensory and motor aspect of attention and working memory. Concerning the emotion and mood regulations, we found the critical role of the ventromedial frontal cortex. And it was suggested that the malfunction of the ventromedial frontal cortex may lead to emotion and mood disorders, such as major depression. And especially for the control of attention and working memory, it was suggested that the top-down information flow from the frontal to posterior cortices may be playing a critical role.
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| Free Research Field |
認知行動神経科学、生理心理学
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
情動や注意の制御は、高次機能の中心的な要素である。また、その機能の破綻は、うつ病や統合失調症など、さまざまな精神疾患につながると考えられている。本研究によって、前頭葉の異なる領域が、情動や注意の制御に特異的な役割を果たしていること、また、特に注意や作業記憶の機能に関しては、それを実現するための神経回路の動態が明らかになった。これらの成果によって、高次脳機能の理解が深まるとともに、精神疾患の病態の理解と、治療戦略の改善、あるいは、新たな治療法の開発につながるものと期待される。
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