Functional linkages between top-down inputs and local oscillation in the motor cortex

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H03359
• 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: Tamagawa University
• Principal Investigator: KAWAGUCHI Yasuo 玉川大学, 脳科学研究所, 研究員 (40169694)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 窪田 芳之 生理学研究所, 脳機能計測・支援センター, 准教授 (90192567)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 前頭皮質 / 運動野 / 皮質間投射 / 錐体細胞 / FS細胞 / スパイン / 運動学習 / 振動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Motor cortex is known to be necessary for motor learning, but its activity and circuit changes are not well understood. In layer 1 of the motor cortex, pyramidal cells make synapses with axons from both higher cortical areas and the thalamus, and in layer 5 with local inhibitory neurons. This research project investigated the function of synaptic circuits in layer 1 and 5 of the motor cortex. We identified pyramidal cell subtypes in higher-order areas that innervate layer 1 of the motor cortex. We found that newly-formed inputs from the higher-order areas specify changes in thalamic inputs during motor learning, and that the motor memories are transmitted by newly-formed, persistent thalamic input synapses. In layer 5, the local oscillatory activity required to facilitate motor learning was found to be generated by reciprocal synaptic interactions between a subtype of pyramidal cells (pyramidal tract cells) and a subtype of GABAergic cells (fast spiking cells).

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

大脳皮質の運動制御機構を理解するには、運動野における局所振動の発生機構と機能的役割や、運動野への高次皮質入力と視床入力の構造的・機能的違いを知る必要がある。本研究は、運動野振動の回路構造と学習への関与、および高次皮質と視床から運動野への投射様式・可変性規則を明らかにしたことで、前頭皮質の運動学習における同期的・階層的処理の理解に貢献した。