The neural mechanism of reduced sociablity for development of rehabilitation therapy

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H04037
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: BIWAKO PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY OF REHABILITATION
• Principal Investigator: Mitani Akira びわこリハビリテーション専門職大学, リハビリテーション学部, 教授 (50200043)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 中井 隆介 京都大学, 人と社会の未来研究院, 特定准教授 (10576234) ; 塚越 千尋 藍野大学, 医療保健学部, 講師 (20782478)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: リハビリテーション / 社会性 / 内側前頭前皮質 / MEG / ユニット活動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the role of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in the neural mechanisms underlying reduced sociability. The mPFC of people with high empathy showed a significant increase in neuromagnetic activity when observing empathic social interactions compared to people with less empathy. Additionally, mice in the group where aggressive behavior frequently occurred, exhibited decreased multiunit activity in the infralimbic cortex of the mPFC. These results suggest that decreased activity in the mPFC, particularly in the infralimbic cortex, may be a cause of reduced sociability. This research provides a fundamental scientific basis for therapies that activate the mPFC, which is expected to lead to the development of effective rehabilitation therapies.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

社会性低下はリハビリテーションの臨床において様々な対象者に観察される機能障害であるが、その神経機構については未明な点が多い。リハビリテーション療法で内側前頭前皮質を活性化させる訓練としてSocial cognitive trainingなどが報告されているが、本研究成果は、これら内側前頭前皮質の活性化をもたらす療法に基礎科学的根拠を与えるものであり、効果的なリハビリテーション療法開発へつながる可能性が考えられる。