Mechanisms of target-specific cortico-cortical transformations in the mouse cerebral cortex

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18H02706
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 51010:Basic brain sciences-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Fumitaka Osakada 名古屋大学, 創薬科学研究科, 准教授 (60455334)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 視覚 / 神経回路 / ウイルスベクター / 機能イメージング / 機能局在 / 視知覚 / サブネットワーク / セルアセンブリ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Visual information processing is achieved by the hierarchical organization of the visual cortex. The mouse visual cortex consists of a primary visual area (V1) and at least nine higher-order visual areas (HVAs) which are functionally tuned to specific features of the visual scene. The functional specialization of HVAs can arise from the interaction between V1 and HVAs. Thus, revealing how information flows between V1 and HVAs is pivotal in understanding the mechanisms of visual perception. However, how HVA-projecting V1 neurons integrate information from their presynaptic neurons remains unknown. Here we mapped the presynaptic networks of AL-projecting or PM-projecting V1 neurons across the whole brain and performed two-photon imaging on AL-projecting and PM-projecting V1 neurons. We found that the projection-target-specific information flows from V1 to HVAs are achieved by the integration of topographically and functionally segregated populations.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究において、独自に開発した革新的技術をマウスに適用することで、長年サルなどでは解明できなかった神経回路メカニズムを解明することができた。本メカニズムは大脳皮質に共通した情報伝達と考えられ、中枢神経系の疾患における神経回路病態の理解に貢献するものである。本研究は、今後の再生医療や創薬開発にも繋がる可能性を秘めており、科学的意義に加えて、医学・薬学的意義も極めて高いと考えられる。