Analysis of basal ganglia circuit mechanisms in cognitive learning and psychiatric disorders

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18H02542
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 46030:Function of nervous system-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: HIKIDA Takatoshi 大阪大学, 蛋白質研究所, 教授 (70421378)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 大脳基底核 / 認知学習 / 神経回路 / 神経伝達 / 側坐核 / 大脳皮質 / 行動柔軟性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Basal ganglia circuit-specific manipulation revealed that the direct and indirect pathway of the nucleus accumbens is specifically involved in Pavlovian cognitive learning and reversal learning, respectively. We also found that the ventral pallidum is important for aversive learning. In addition, the direct and indirect pathways of the nucleus accumbens regulate circuit-specific gene expression in the medial prefrontal cortex. The mouse model of psychiatric disorders showed molecular pathology specific in the nucleus accumbens, indicating a role for the basal ganglia circuit in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders.

Free Research Field

神経科学・精神医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、認知学習における大脳皮質-大脳基底核神経回路の制御機構が明らかとなった。また精神疾患モデルマウスの解析により、精神疾患病態において大脳基底核神経回路の異常をもたらす分子病態が関与していることが明らかとなった。これらの研究成果は、神経回路に着目した新しい精神疾患治療法の開発につながるものである。