Elucidation of the neural mechanisms that show activity correlated with pleasant and unpleasant taste responses and induce these responses

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06938
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 46030:Function of nervous system-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Daisuke 東京医科歯科大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 講師 (90456921)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 感情 / 快 / 不快 / 嫌悪 / 味覚

Outline of Final Research Achievements

By using methods to specifically label active neurons with fluorescent proteins and by making the brain transparent to facilitate observation of their fluorescence, I identified neurons with activity closely related to pleasant or unpleasant sensations at the single-cell level of resolution across the entire mouse brain. I also found that artificially activating those cells using an injected compound or a technique in which they are activated by light emitted from an LED light induced some behaviors that indicate pleasantness and unpleasantness in mice.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は、一般に「心脳問題」や「意識のハードプロブレム」として知られている、「意識経験と神経機構の関係性の問題」の解明に寄与する可能性がある。また、快・不快の情動的意識経験(快・不快経験)は、近年増加傾向にある統合失調症やうつ病、麻薬中毒などの様々な精神疾患において異常を呈していることが知られている。本研究の成果は、それら意識経験の異常に対する治療法の開発に貢献できる可能性がある。