Investigation and manipulation of neural networks for adaptive decision making in competitive and cooperative interactions

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07258
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 51020:Cognitive and brain science-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Shingo Tanaka 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 助教 (30597951)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 川嵜 圭祐 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 准教授 (60511178)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 心の理論 / 計算論的行動モデル / 前頭前野 / ニホンザル / 皮質脳波 / ECoG

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In selecting one's own behavior toward other individuals in a rapidly changing social environment, it is important to communicate information in a neural network that includes the brain regions that simulate the behavior of others and the brain regions that are involved in adaptive behavior selection according to the environment and context. However, the details of this network remain to be clarified. In the present study, we examined the decision-making process using a simulated other by analyzing behavioral data of a macaque monkey during an interactive experimental task. Furthermore, we recorded ECoG signals from the prefrontal cortex and identified brain activities related to adaptive behavior selection using a simulated other in the brain.

Free Research Field

神経生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、インタラクティブな実験課題中の行動データと神経活動を記録・解析することで、脳内他者を用いた適応的行動選択の意思決定プロセスと、それに関連する脳活動を明らかにした。この結果は、「心の理論」を用いた行動選択の神経基盤にアプローチできるといった点で学術的意義がある。さらに、この研究成果は「心の理論」の原理や存在意義の解明につながるとともに、自閉症などの社会的行動に対して困難を示す症例の原因解明や、治療法の確立、さらには人工知能への心の実装などにつながると考えている。