2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Investigation of nucleus accumbens subpopulations controlling reward and aversive learning
| Project/Area Number |
21K15210
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Review Section |
Basic Section 46030:Function of nervous system-related
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| Research Institution | Osaka University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | Reward / Aversion / Learning / Nucleus Accumbens / Basal Ganglia / In-vivo imaging / Optogenetics |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
During this project, I was successful in using single-cell resolution in-vivo imaging and optogenetics to identify new subpopulations of nucleus accumbens cells that contribute to the signaling and reward and aversion, and can control reward and aversion-related behaviors. As a result of these exciting findings, i have now expanded the project further with the intention of publishing in a high-impact journal. This project has also directly contributed to data in several scientific papers that are now in submission or have been published, including one paper published in Nature Communications and another paper published in Frontiers in Neuroscience.
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| Free Research Field |
Neuroscience
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
Given that dysfunction of the NAc is associated with several psychiatric disorders charactorized by abnormal reward and aversion learning (including depression), these findings may provide new therapeutic targets for treatments of such conditions.
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