Elucidation of information distribution mechanisms from the hippocampus to other brain regions

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H03356
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 46030:Function of nervous system-related
• Research Institution: Osaka Metropolitan University (2022); Osaka City University (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: MIZUSEKI Kenji 大阪公立大学, 大学院医学研究科, 教授 (80344448)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 海馬 / 海馬台 / 前頭前野 / 扁桃体 / 情報ルーティング / 経路特異的 / 光遺伝学 / オシレーション

Outline of Final Research Achievements

By combining large-scale recording methods and optogenetics, we have developed a technique to identify the brain regions to which the simultaneously recording neurons project and clarified the mechanism by which information related to navigation is distributed from the hippocampus to downstream brain regions. Furthermore, by simultaneously recording neuronal activity from the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and ventral hippocampus during the acquisition, consolidation, and recall of fear memories by classical fear conditioning learning, we found that synchronous neuronal activity across brain regions occurs during high-frequency oscillations during consolidation and recall of fear memories.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、ナビゲーションに関わる情報が海馬から下流脳領域へ分配されるメカニズムを明らかにした。さらに、海馬が前頭前野・扁桃体と協調して恐怖記憶の定着と想起を支えるメカニズムを明らかにした。本研究の成果は、認知症や心的外傷後ストレス障害の病態を深く理解し、より優れた予防法や治療法を開発するための基盤になることが期待される。