Brain development and gut microbiota

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H01086
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 59:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Taga Gentaro 東京大学, 大学院教育学研究科(教育学部), 教授 (00272477)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 佐治 量哉 玉川大学, 農学部, 准教授 (90453670)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 脳 / 腸内細菌 / 発達 / リズム / 脳波 / NIRS / 共生

Outline of Final Research Achievements

FNIRS and EEG measurements of the developing brain revealed that the spindles generated during quiet sleep induce a decrease in cerebral blood flow in the nearby brain region in 3-month-old infants. A modeling study showed a mechanism by which the spontaneous activity of the brain, cerebral blood flow, and oxygen metabolism are spontaneously integrated through the rhythmic interactions. We analyzed the gut microbiota by 16SrRNA metagenome analysis as well as measurement and analysis of the infant brain, and obtained data to demonstrate a possible relationship between them. In addition, we obtained more than 100 strong longitudinal data on the details of postnatal development of the gut microbiota in several individuals.

Free Research Field

発達脳科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

乳児期の脳の発達において、睡眠紡錘波の生成が、脳の血流変化を通じて、脳の維持機構を担う可能性を示した。また、腸内細菌叢との共生が脳の発達に及ぼす影響を実証するための基礎的なデータを得た。脳の発達と共生に関する新たな考え方を示した。