Activities of the prefrontal cortex related to pleasant emotion by food

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K11354
• 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: Kyushu Dental College
• Principal Investigator: YOSHINO KENICHI 九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 教授 (90201029)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 情動 / 近赤外脳機能計測（fNIRS） / アイトラッキング / 前頭前野

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The emotions "Delicious" promotes not only the intake of necessary nutrition but also brings satisfaction and happiness. When considering our life and QOL, it is important. However, since this emotion is based on subjective and qualitative evaluation of the people, and the physiological condition of them has a great influence, there are few studies on "delicious". Therefore, we use the fNIRS and the eye movement measurement to objectively and quantitatively investigate prefrontal cortex activity and eye movements related to "deliciousness". As a result, 1) the unpleasant emotion activates the brain activity in the prefrontal cortex, 2) the emotion of "looks delicious and wants to eat" tends to lengthen the time to watch the subject, 3) the pupil diameter tends to become smaller due to "delicious". Based on these results, objectively and quantitatively measuring the changes in brain activity and eye movement during emotions can be the basis for new methods of oral rehabilitation.

Free Research Field

神経生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

医療・介護の現場では、生命維持や生活支援を目的とした様々な摂食嚥下リハ訓練が行なわれているが、それらの効果は主観的および定性的に評価されることが多い。しかし、各々の患者に適した訓練の質的・量的負荷や時間・頻度などを選択し、効果的かつ効率的な摂食嚥下リハ訓練を実施するためには、科学的根拠に基づいた客観的かつ定量的な評価が不可欠と考えられる。
本研究は、fNIRSとアイトラッキングという非侵襲的手法を用いることにより情動を客観的かつ定量的に評価できる可能性を示唆した。このことは高齢者、認知症患者や摂食嚥下障害者の健康寿命の延伸およびQOL向上に寄与する新たな摂食嚥下リハの評価・手法へとつながる。