Motivation-related networks revealed by awake brain surgery

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09385
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56010:Neurosurgery-related
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Kinoshita Masashi 金沢大学, 医学系, 講師 (50525045)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 中嶋 理帆 金沢大学, 保健学系, 助教 (60614865)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: motivation / awake brain surgery / glioma / right frontal lobe

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Motivation-related networks centered in the right frontal lobe were shown by neuroimaging analysis to be concentrated in the posterior region and inferior frontal gyrus and to be strongly involved in the process of significant motivation decline and recovery. The results of the evaluation of the relationship with higher brain functions (emotion, motor, visuospatial cognition, and working memory) involving the other right frontal lobe were suspected to be related to intraoperative decreased motivation and decreased spontaneity caused by the cognitive-motor loop involving the frontal lobe-basal ganglia. These results suggested that patients' subjective cognitive function (metacognition) is related to the maintenance of postoperative motivation, and a new collaborative study was initiated to create a rehabilitation program based on a neuropsychological approach.

Free Research Field

覚醒下手術

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

意欲の低下はひきこもりやアパシー、うつ状態などに関連する症状であり、脳腫瘍術後患者においても重要課題のひとつである。前頭葉グリオーマ患者における「意欲」が関わる脳内ネットワークが明らかになることにより、術中の意欲ネットワークの同定と機能温存、経時的な機能回復を目的とした次世代型覚醒下手術法の確立、意志力が果たす意欲ネットワークの早期回復を目指したリハビリテーションプログラム策定につながる。すなわち、脳腫瘍患者の術後の生存予後のみならず次世代レベルの機能予後改善が期待できる。