Elucidating the neural mechanism that regulates social distance

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02660
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 48020:Physiology-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Shingo Soya 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 助教 (90791442)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 扁桃体 / Npbwr1 / 社会的新奇嗜好性 / ソーシャルディスタンス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It has been suggested that neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) expressing the novel Neuropeptide B/W receptor 1 (NPBWR1) (referred to as NPBWR1 neurons) play a crucial role in individual recognition during social interactions, as well as in the regulation of social distance and sociability. Indeed, by pharmacogenetically manipulating NPBWR1 neurons, artificial excitation of these neurons enhanced sociability towards novel individuals, whereas artificial inhibition reduced sociability. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that the activity of CeA neurons, regulated by the SNP (Y135F) of the human NPBWR1 gene, could potentially alter social behavior towards novel individuals.

Free Research Field

分子行動生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

薬理遺伝学や光遺伝学を用いてNPBWR1ニューロンを人為的に操作させることで、新奇個体に対する社会性およびソーシャルデイスタンスが変化することを突き止めている。NPBWR1を標的とした創薬開発研究を行うことで、様々な要因によって低下したを社会性を回復させる効果が期待できる。また、ヒトNPBWR1（Y135F）の生理的意義を明らかにすることによって、個性の範疇であった情動応答および社会行動の多様性（特に人との距離感）を分子・神経科学的に説明するための基礎的知見を提供できる。