Neurophysiological investigation of the innate cognition system (extrageniculate visual system) responsible for primate brain evolution

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H03417
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 48020:Physiology-related
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: Nishijo Hisao 富山大学, 学術研究部医学系, 特別研究教授 (00189284)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 本能的認知 / 膝状体外視覚系 / 上丘 / 扁桃体 / ガンマオシレーション / ヘビ / 顔

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Primates such as humans and monkeys can detect snakes, their natural enemies, more quickly than other animals, even in snake-unexperienced individuals. To clarify the innate recognition mechanism of snakes and faces in primates, we analyzed the responsiveness of the monkey extrastriate visual system (superior colliculus and amygdala) to visual stimuli. The results revealed that 1) amygdalar and superior collicular neurons responded to snakes and faces of the same species more rapidly and strongly with a shorter latency than to those of other animals, and 2) these superior collicular and amygdalar neurons showed gamma oscillations with a short latency specifically to snakes. These findings suggest that the extrastriate visual system functions as a quick ascending information processing system, especially in snakes.

Free Research Field

神経生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ヘビは人類を含む霊長類共通の天敵であり、人類の脳はヘビを検出する視覚能力を高めるために進化してきたことが示唆されている(ヘビ検出仮説)。例えばヘビ検出仮説を支持するデータとして、1)ヘビを未経験である小児やサルでも、ヘビを素早く検出し、恐怖症状を示す、2)ヒトでは、恐怖症の対象物としてヘビの頻度が高いことなどが報告されている。本研究結果は、これら行動学的データに神経科学的基盤を与えるものである。