Elucidation of neural mechanisms of primate cognitive memory using an integrated approach of magnetic resonance imaging and optogenetic manipulation

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24220008
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Neuroscience in general
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: MIYASHITA Yasushi 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科(医学部), 名誉教授 (40114673)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 饗場 篤 東京大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (20271116)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-05-31 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 認知神経科学 / 磁気共鳴機能画像法（fMRI） / 霊長類 / 大脳 / 光遺伝学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I analyzed the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive memory from two view-points: 1) First, we investigated how the whole-brain neural network operates through the exchange of specific information that originates from local microcircuits and single neurons. Particularly, we compared microcircuit operations across areas in the monkey temporal cortex and found a novel principle for cortical computation on object processing, in which precursor codes for object features are constructed in a lower-order area before prevalence in a higher-order area. 2) Second, we investigated causal impacts of reversible silencing of the cortical sites that such a whole-brain network search has successfully identified. Particularly, we discovered a center of metamemory for temporally remote events in the prefrontal area 9. These studies provided an outstanding development in understanding of causal neural origin of high-level cognition such as metamemory.

Free Research Field

総合領域、脳神経科学、神経科学一般