Anatomical identification of the multi-synaptic functional connectivity between frontal and temporal cortex of monkeys, responsible for memory recall.

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26890007
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Setsuie Rieko (市原理恵子) 東京大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 特任研究員 (30532535)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-08-29 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: macaque monkey / functional MRI / memory recall / tracer / BDA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Prefrontal cortex and inferior temporal cortex are two important areas, involved in memory recall formation. However, the functional connectivity and its multi synaptic projection relays between these two areas have not been well identified. In this study, we trained macaque monkeys to perform recency test, a test which monkeys are asked to study many serially shown pictures. Then, monkeys are asked to choose one recently seen picture from two shown pictures. We performed functional MRI analysis when monkeys are performing these tasks in MRI. We found that area 9 in prefrontal cortex and area TE in inferior temporal cortex has functional connectivity and reported this result in a scientific journal.

Free Research Field

Neuroscience