Synaptic analysis in a single neuron of neural responses involved in optimizing avoidance behavior.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06912
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 46010:Neuroscience-general-related
• Research Institution: Nara Women's University (2023); Tokyo Women's Medical University (2019-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Hori Sayaka 奈良女子大学, 自然科学系, 准教授 (20470122)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 行動 / C. elegans / 行動最適化 / シナプス / 逃避行動 / 侵害刺激

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Animals select appropriate behaviors according to their situation and environment. Among these, in response to "noxious stimuli," which cause pain or body injury, it is necessary to choose behaviors based on the severity of the damage. Our study reports that when the unc-130 gene, a transcription factor common to both C. elegans and humans, loses its function, the animals respond to strong noxious stimuli as if they were weak stimuli. It was determined that the abnormal behavior in these mutants is caused by decreased expression of the ion channel nca-2 (Novel Channel type/putative Nematode CAlcium channel), which affects the neural activity of neurons responsible for determining avoidance behavior. These findings were published in a research paper.

Free Research Field

行動神経学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

同じ「侵害刺激」であってもその強さがどのように１つの神経の中で処理・区別されるかを、シナプスを構成する遺伝子を元に理解することに貢献しました。このような、動物が刺激に応じて最適な行動をとるしくみは、長年、心理学の分野で研究されてきましたが、近年は経済学や工学の分野などの社会応用に近い分野でも研究されるようになってきました。本研究で得られた成果は、いろいろな分野に貢献することが期待されます。