2021 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Somatosensory integration in the Secondary Somatosensory Cortex and its role in the formation of self-body consciousness
| Project/Area Number |
20K15944
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| Research Institution | Institute of Physical and Chemical Research |
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Principal Investigator |
BretasVieira Rafael 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 生命機能科学研究センター, 研究員 (70831907)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | secondary somatosensory / consciousness / self body awareness / mirror self recognition / sii / s2 |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In this experiment our goal was to identify the role of the secondary somatosensory area in the brain in the formation of consciousness. During this study, we analyzed data from recorded neurons of a Macaque monkey while the experimenter approached parts of the monkey body in front of a mirror.
We discovered that some neurons responded to seeing an object or experimenter approaching the monkey’s own body, even when this stimulus could only be seen through the mirror. These results intended to provide an indication that the monkey can recognize their own body in the mirror. Since these neurons also respond to the monkey body being touched, there is a possibility this recognition is done through the association of vision and touch.
In the technical results and progress, we devised an experiment to better control the influence of touch and vision in these neuronal responses. During this process we developed a new technique to acquire high temporal precision data and with less manual work as it was required when manually tagging videos of the experiment. We acquired behavioral data using this new setup in the past year and confirmed its accuracy. At the same time we also trained a monkey in the task and improved the surgical procedures for the experiment using a custom, 3D printed implant.
During the entire length of the experiment, we answered our first question, giving the experimental support to future experiments. We also developed the techniques necessary for this future experiment. All this is important for understanding the neuronal basis of consciousness.
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