Correlated LM and EM analysis of cortical microcircuit remodeling during learning

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H03336
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 46020:Anatomy and histopathology of nervous system-related
• Research Institution: National Institute for Physiological Sciences
• Principal Investigator: Kubota Yoshiyuki 生理学研究所, 脳機能計測・支援センター, 准教授 (90192567)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 大脳皮質 / 神経回路 / リモデリング / シナプス / スパイン / 視床 / 運動学習 / 光顕電顕相関

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed correlated light and electron microscopy (CLEM) with combination of in vivo imaging using two photon microscopy and large volume electron microscopy using automated tape collecting ultramicrotome (ATUM) to analyze the cortical neural microcircuit changes that occured in the M1 cortex for seed reaching task motor learning task using with forelimb. During the learning task, we observed that the secondary motor cortex (M2) → M1 neural pathway plays an important role in “motor learning” while the acquired “motor memory” is transferred to the thalamus → M1 neural pathway, indicating that neural circuit remodeling has been occurred in M1 cortex. We concluded that “synaptic connections for learning” helps in formation and maturation of “synaptic connections for memory” for the skill learning.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

今回の研究で、脳が“学習”した事柄をいかにして“記憶”に変換していくのかについて、新たな知見を示すことができました。例えば、箸の使い方を練習すると、初めは一生懸命に指先に神経を払う必要がありますが、練習すればするほど箸使いが上手になります。そのうちに、会話したり、テレビをみたり、新聞を読んだりしながら、無意識下で箸を上手に使いこなして食事をとるようになります。このような日常の運動学習に関わる脳の学習メカニズムの解明につながる成果だと考えています。