Causal role of novel oscillatory activity in the thalamic reticular nucleus in fluctuating neural responses to sensory stimulation.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06944
• 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: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: TAKATA Norio 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 講師 (50415212)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 視床網様核 / 光ファイバー測光装置 / カルシウム / ヒゲ刺激 / マウス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The responses of neuronal activity fluctuate from trial to trial, even for the same sensory stimulus. This fluctuation is assumed to be "noise" that reduces the efficiency of information processing. In this study, we investigated the possibility that the fluctuations in the response amplitude in cortical neurons to whisker stimulation in mice are not "noise" but actually are actively modulated by the novel collective oscillatory activity of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), which we discovered. We developed a "fiber-optic fluorescence measurement system" and applied it to genetically modified mice in which Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent protein was expressed in the TRN. We found that TRN oscillates at low frequencies correlated with fluctuating activity in specific cortical regions.

Free Research Field

神経生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

脳情報処理の効率を低下させると言われる神経活動応答のゆらぎを、実は脳がTRNを介して積極的に作り出しているとの仮説検証に取り組んだ。得られた結果は仮説を支持するものであり、ゆらぎを能動的に活用する新しい情報処理機構を示唆して脳理論研究への波及効果を期待できる。