Investigation of motor engram with TMS and 7T-MRI

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19629
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59030:Physical education, and physical and health education-related
• Research Institution: Waseda University (2021-2023); National Institute for Physiological Sciences (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Hamano Yuki 早稲田大学, 理工学術院, 次席研究員 (00823254)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 運動記憶 / 系列運動学習 / 両手 / 機能的MRI / 超高磁場MRI

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to investigate in which part of the brain the sequential motor learning forms its motor engram. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, under the circumstance of being restricted to perform the experiment, we modified the experiment plan to investigate the motor engram of bimanual sequential motor learning. To achieve a bimanual sequential motor learning, it was necessary to have separate sequential motor learnings with non-sequential component to independently control of bimanual hands, and a sequential component to achieve a motor sequential learning with actual sequences. By using a 7T-fMRI, we found that the motor engrams, which are formed through these two learning components within the bimanual sequential motor learning, are represented in the primary cortex controlling the dominant hand.

Free Research Field

脳機能イメージング

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

タイピングやピアノ演奏など日常には両手を用いた系列動作が数多く存在する。しかし、系列運動の神経機構を扱うほとんどの研究は、片手動作しか扱ってこなかった。日常で多くみられる両手を用いた系列動作についての記憶が、脳内でどのように形成されるかを明らかにしたという点で、本研究は社会的な意義を持つ。さらに本研究は、両手を用いた学習にも関わらず、その記憶痕跡が利き手を支配する脳領域に形成されることを発見した。この新たな発見は、脳がどのように系列運動を実現するかという神経機構の解明に対し重要な示唆を与えるという点で学術的意義を持つ。