2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Search for neuronal mechanisms to utilize higher-order memory
Project/Area Number |
16H02061
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Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
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Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
Section | 一般 |
Research Field |
Experimental psychology
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Research Institution | Doshisha University |
Principal Investigator |
Sakurai Yoshio 同志社大学, 脳科学研究科, 教授 (60153962)
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Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
廣川 純也 同志社大学, 研究開発推進機構, 准教授 (40546470)
眞部 寛之 同志社大学, 研究開発推進機構, 准教授 (80511386)
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Project Period (FY) |
2016-04-01 – 2021-03-31
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Keywords | 記憶 / 神経回路 / 神経細胞 / セル・アセンブリ / ラット |
Outline of Final Research Achievements |
The present research project aimed to detect the activity of cell assemblies when higher memory functions were working in the brain. We have obtained enough findings in the early period of the project as the following. Hippocampal neuron populations quickly showed synchronous firing when retaining and using contexts of stimuli. Neuronal populations showed the interaction between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex when retaining and using orders of stimuli. Hippocampal neurons showed specific rhythms reflecting cell-assembly activity when consolidated rules were changed for use. We have also constructed new memory tasks for rats, new methodologies to detect higher memory and cognitive functions, and new strategies for the research of cell assemblies. We have published all of these results in international journals.
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Free Research Field |
神経科学、実験心理学
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Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
本研究の成果により、これまで認知心理学が唱えてきた記憶情報のネットワークという構成概念を、脳内のセル・アセンブリという実体と結びつけることが可能となり、認知心理学と神経科学を一体化した新たな学術分野を創造する道筋が見えてきた。またセル・アセンブリの活動を今後さらに精緻に検出できるようになれば、記憶情報やその活用に伴う脳内の信号を取り出すことが可能になり、身体麻痺の患者さんが脳の活動だけで外部機器を操作するシステム、すなわち真のブレイン-マシン・インタフェース(BMI)の実現に近づくと考えられる。
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