2018 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Remembering the dear past - how do emotions modulate the neural substrates of autobiographical memory recall?
| Project/Area Number |
17K00220
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| Research Institution | National Institute of Information and Communications Technology |
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Principal Investigator |
NAWA Norberto・E 国立研究開発法人情報通信研究機構, 脳情報通信融合研究センター脳機能解析研究室, 主任研究員 (40395116)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
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| Keywords | autobiographical memory / episodic memory / hippocampus / vmPFC / amygdala |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In the fiscal year (FY) of 2018, we completed the dynamic causal modelling analysis based on the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data collected in the previous year. We wrote a paper reporting the results of that study, and also presented them in an international conference. The full paper has been submitted and will be published in the FY2019. Results from that study showed that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is a major modulator of activity in both hippocampus and amygdala during the elaboration of emotional memories, in particular, memories that evoke positive affect. These results suggest that the role of the hippocampus is probably better defined as an information integrator, at least during the elaboration of memories. We also collected a new fMRI dataset focusing on the stage preceding memory elaboration, i.e., memory search. How does the vmPFC and hippocampus interact during memory search? Will the vmPFC modulate the hippocampus -- as during memory elaboration -- or will the interaction be reversed? Preliminary results indicate that the vmPFC also drives activity in the hippocampus during memory search, highlighting the importance of the prefrontal-hippocampal interaction during both stages of episodic memory retrieval.
Since this research involves the participation of human subjects, we are paying utmost care to strictly act in accordance with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology bylaws regarding the collection and handling of personal information, as clearly stated in our original research plan.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
We had originally planned to examine emotional intensity and valence representations of affective states induced by memory elaboration in the year 2018. That part of the project has not been completed yet, therefore, we plan assign a higher priority to it in the remaining year of this project.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
For the final year of this project (FY 2019) we plan to examine emotional intensity and valence representations in the human brain, mainly using fMRI data that has been already collected, to expedite progress, and achieve the goals that were originally proposed.
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| Causes of Carryover |
We have not managed yet to find personnel to work long-term under the conditions we are able to offer, that being the main reason why we were unable to fully spend this year's budget. We are studying the possibility of hiring assistants for shorter amounts of time in the last year of the project.
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