Effects of projection circuits from motor cortex to somatosensory cortex on pain reduction

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07285
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 51030:Pathophysiologic neuroscience-related
• Research Institution: Doshisha University (2022-2023); Tokyo Women's Medical University (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Osaki Hironobu 同志社大学, 研究開発推進機構, 准教授 (30747697)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 運動 / 痛み

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the somatosensory cortex, nociceptive information, which is the sensory component of pain with information about "where" and "how" the body hurts, is primarily processed in the region that is distinct from tactile information. In rodent mice, we reported that tactile information is mainly processed in the granular area of the somatosensory cortex. Conversely, nociceptive information is processed in the dysgranular region, characterized by a reduced thickness of layer 4. Furthermore, the dysgranular region plays a crucial role in inducing escape behaviors based on pain sensation. To further investigate the interaction with motor information, we developed a calcium imaging system that allow us to observe cortical activity extensively during locomotion in rodent mice. Using this system, we successfully captured activity motor-related neural activity in the motor and somatosensory cortices during locomotion.

Free Research Field

神経生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

痛みは身体に生じた損傷等を知らせるシグナルの役割を担っている。しかし、痛みは脳内の様々な領域で処理され、各領域において修飾され、痛みとして表出するため、痛みの程度は損傷の程度と必ずしも一致しない。本研究では、痛みが体性感覚野のどの部位で選択的に処理され、逃避行動の誘発に関与するのかを示し、さらに運動による除痛効果の解明に不可欠な新たな行動観察システムを構築し実用化した。本システムを用いて、運動中の神経活動を広範囲に観察可能となったことにより、痛みが運動中にどのように修飾されうるのかを詳細に観察でき、今後、運動と痛みの関連の解明に役立つことが期待される。