2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Dopamine signaling in adaptive decision making
| Project/Area Number |
19K06957
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Review Section |
Basic Section 46030:Function of nervous system-related
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| Research Institution | Osaka Metropolitan University (2022)
Osaka City University (2019-2021) |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | 神経回路 / ドーパミン / モチベーション / 電気生理学 / 光遺伝学 / 齧歯類 |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Organisms adapt their behavior through interactions with the environment. We previously showed that midbrain dopamine neurons modify their signaling modes in response to environmental contexts. In this study, we aimed to elucidate dopamine signals that control adaptive behavior in dynamically changing environments. We devised behavioral tasks that animals repeatedly adapt to the new reward environments to maximize their reward. As we expected, animals adapted to the new environments through trial and error, leading to increased rewards. We then applied a new recording technique combining in vivo electrophysiology and optogenetics to record the projection-site specific dopamine signals as well as the responses of individual dopamine neurons. We found diverse and projection-site-identified dopamine signals which will be used for appropriate decision-making.
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| Free Research Field |
システム神経科学
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
ドーパミンは多様な脳機能に関連する。しかし、中脳ドーパミン系がどのようなメカニズムによって多様な脳機能を適切に制御しているかはあまり明らかではなかった。本研究では、細胞外神経活動計測技術と光遺伝学を組み合わせ、単一細胞レベルの、投射回路別のドーパミン信号を高時間分解能で計測する技術を開発した。さらに、この計測技術を自由行動中の動物に適用し、環境適応におけるドーパミン信号のダイナミクスを詳細に検討する実験系を確立した。本研究により、適応行動におけるドーパミン系の情報処理メカニズムの一端を明らかにした。環境適応における脳の動作原理の理解につながると期待される。
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