Examination of the hypothalamus and insular neurons as part of the eating regulation systems.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07261
• 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: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: Kusumoto Ikue 鹿児島大学, 医歯学域医学系, 助教 (80724757)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Insular cortex / Hypothalamus / Appetite / Food

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is widely believed that the desire to eat, inherent in all individuals, is shaped by neuronal circuits. However, the precise neuronal pathways and mechanisms underlying desire remain poorly understood. It has been known that the hypothalamus plays an important role in regulating eating behavior, and the insular cortex has been suggested to be involved in appetitive motivation.In this study, we have elucidated that correlated increases in both hypothalamus and insular cortex activities were observed during the food anticipatory period. Furthermore, animals require several repeated training sessions before they become able to predict food, and it has been confirmed that activity in these brain areas is enhanced as they undergo training.

Free Research Field

Neuroscience

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

摂食行動は、私たちが生きていくために適切に制御され継続される必要がある行動であるが、その行動を押し上げる意欲の重要性は、これまで注目されることが少なかった。本研究では、意欲が生じる神経メカニズムの解明につなげることを目標に、食べる意欲が高まっている瞬間をターゲットとし、主に組織学的に脳内の神経活動の変動を調べ、その性質を明らかにした。本研究で明らかにした、島皮質と視床下部の相関した神経活動は、今後、食欲の研究を進めていくにあたり、重要な研究対象であることを示すことができたと考えている。