Neuronal mechanisms of memory encoding and recall in rat hippocampus

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16884
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 51010:Basic brain sciences-related
• Research Institution: Fukushima Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Nakazono Tomoaki 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (10835490)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 海馬 / 記憶 / 光遺伝学 / オシレーション

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research project attempted to identify the neuronal circuits in the hippocampus that are recruited for different memory processes: encoding and recall. Unfortunately, however, suppression of hippocampal cells by optogenetic stimulation did not result in significant changes in behavioral performance in the memory task. Therefore, I modified a new behavioral task to distinguish between encoding and recall processes, and recorded multi-neuronal activity from hippocampal CA1 when rats performed the memory task.

Free Research Field

実験心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

記憶、中でも我々の日々の記憶であるエピソード記憶の神経機構の解明はわれわれの「こころ」の物的基盤解明のための大きな手がかりであり、アルツハイマー病などの認知症治療の根幹となる。今回新たに考案した遅延見本合わせ課題は記銘のプロセスと想起のプロセスを厳密に切り分けることが可能な課題であり、電気生理記録だけでなく様々な研究手法と組み合わせることで記憶の神経機構を明らかにする手段となりうる。