Analysis of the mechanism of discrimination learning mediated by the direct and indirect striatal pathways

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K20687
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0704:Neuroscience, brain sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: Fukushima Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Nishizawa Kayo 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (30644108)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 背側線条体 / 弁別学習 / 直接路 / 間接路 / 大脳基底核回路

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The striatum, the central neuronal nucleus of the basal ganglia, is a brain region important for learning. The basal ganglia neural circuit has two output pathways from the striatum: a direct striatal pathway that projects to the substantia nigra and an indirect striatal pathway that projects to the globus pallidus. They act antagonistically, and the proper balance between them makes learning possible. Disruption of the balance directly leads to dysfunction of the basal ganglia circuit, which in turn leads to the development of diseases with cognitive impairment. However, due to technical difficulties, the role of each pathway in learning has not been fully understood. In this study, we attempted to develop a genetic manipulation technique to distinguish each pathway and remove the targeted pathway specifically.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究によって得られた知見は、高次機能障害に対する新しい治療法の確立につながる事が期待される。