Neural correlates of hemispatial neglect: changes in functional connectivity in attention networks associated with unilateral spatial neglect and prism adaptation therapy

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K11331
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Mizuno Katsuhiro 国立研究開発法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 病院 身体リハビリテーション部, 部長 (50327649)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 新藤 恵一郎 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 講師(非常勤) (70338177)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 安静時脳機能結合 / 半側空間無視 / 注意ネットワーク

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to elucidate the pathophysiology of hemispatial neglect, which is symptoms of inattention to half of the visual field and known as a common symptom after cerebral stroke, and develop the treatment for it, we investigate the correlation between neglect-like symptoms induced by transcranial direct current stimulation and resting-state functional connectivity in attention networks of healthy individuals. The results showed that there is a relationship between changes in visual attention networks and changes in visual search tasks.
Based on the above results, we started studies to explore the changes in visual attention networks after prism adaptation therapy, which is known as a treatment for hemispatial neglect, in patients with hemispatial neglect and healthy subjects with induced neglect.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

経頭蓋直流電流刺激のように脳を刺激することで、脳機能に変化を起こすことをニューロモデュレーションと呼ぶ。この研究では経頭蓋直流電流刺激によるニューロモデュレーション効果を、安静時脳機能結合の変化として捉えられることができた。さらに、安静時脳機能結合の変化と実際の視覚探索機能の変化との間に関連性があることも分かった。この研究の成果は、半側空間無視の病態解明だけでなく、ヒトの視空間認知機能に関わる脳内ネットワーク機能の解明にも貢献できる。