Elucidating the involvement of the claustrum in cortical slow wave and memory consolidation

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06964
• 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: Toho University (2020-2021); Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (2019)
• Principal Investigator: NARIKIYO Kimiya 東邦大学, 医学部, 助教 (70599836)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 前障 / 大脳皮質 / 徐波 / 睡眠 / 記憶 / 固定化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The claustrum is a sheet-like neural structure that exists in the deep cerebral cortex of mammals, including humans, and is characterized by its bidirectional projections to almost all cortical regions. This feature suggests that the claustrum is involved in the activity of a wide range of cortical regions, but its actual function is not well understood. In this study, we focused on "slow waves," which are electroencephalogram seen throughout the cortical regions during non-REM sleep, and investigated their relationship to the claustrum in mice. Using genetic and electrophysiological techniques, we examined the causal relationship between the activity of claustral neurons and the generation of slow waves in the cerebral cortex, and clarified that the claustrum is involved in the coordination of slow waves in the cerebral cortex.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、大脳皮質徐波の制御という前障の新たな機能を明らかにするとともに、これまで大脳皮質と視床を中心に考えられてきた徐波生成の神経基盤に、前障という新たな要素を提示する。本研究の成果により、前障の機能と徐波の神経メカニズムの双方の解明が進むことが期待される。