Dissecting the cortical and subcortical pathways of innate visual fear in the common marmoset

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22684
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0704:Neuroscience, brain sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: CHEN Chih-Yang 京都大学, 高等研究院, 特定助教 (30884689)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Innate fear / Marmoset / Electrophysiology / Optogenetics

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Innate fear is a type of negative emotion that even if one did not learn or experience before, one is afraid of it. The neural mechanisms of innate fear in primate is still largely unknown. With the help of Kakenhi startup grant, I have performed a series of proposed experiments to uncover the neural mechanism of innate fear. I have designed a full-hemisphere electrocorticography (ECoG) and successfully implanted it in two marmosets. I have also started to record their brain-wide activity and pupil response simultaneously while they are viewing pictures of their predators or other animals. I have completed recording from 1 marmoset. We have also validated the possibility of remotely recording blood pressure and heart rate while the marmosets performing the task. Finally, I have tested several AAV vectors for inhibiting the brain areas with precise time control in rodents. Overall, the experiments are progressing smoothly and I will be able to understand the neural bases of innate fear.

Free Research Field

Neuroscience

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Innate fear is a new research field. It is largely unknown in primate. The human extreme of it would be anxiety disorders like social phobia or panic attacks. Through studying innate fear, I hope I can advance our knowledge of fear processing and understand the cause of anxiety disorders.