Development of a technique of manipulation of neural circuit in primates

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17H02224
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Brain biometrics
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Higo Takayasu 京都大学, 医学研究科, 講師 (10396757)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 霊長類 / 高次脳機能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It has been suggested that the higher brain functions in primates including human are regulated by a highly developed cerebral cortex, in particular, functional interaction across multiple brain regions. However, the underlying circuit mechanisms of the higher functions remain elusive, because of the difficulties to generate a method of selectively manipulating the interaction between brain sites. In this research project, we mainly focus on a functional interaction between prefrontal cortex and inferior temporal cortex to regulate attention, and in order to identify circuits and neural activities, we developed a technique to manipulate a specific network by a gene expression induction of tetanus toxin.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の意義は、国際的に停滞していた霊長類の脳機能制御研究のブレイクスルーとなることが期待され、神経科学分野の研究を特に回路や細胞レベルで発展させる点である。また得られた知見は、心理学、教育学などの霊長類の認知機能を扱う幅広い学問領域の議論を活性化すると考えられる。一般社会へのインパクトとして、高齢化社会における認知機能の低下や学童期の学習や自閉症、注意欠陥が関心を集める中、前頭前野に関する本研究の知見は広く一般に受け入れられ、前頭前野研究の重要性の認知に貢献すると考えられる。