Developing an in vitro brain tissue that learns

2024 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23K18251
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 51:Brain sciences and related fields
• Research Institution: Nagoya University (2024); Hokkaido University (2023)
• Principal Investigator: Norimoto Hiroaki 名古屋大学, 理学研究科, 教授 (40779568)
• Project Period (FY): 2023-06-30 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: 脳 / 学習 / 睡眠・覚醒

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to induce an awake-like state in ex vivo whole-brain preparations and to test the possibility of learning by providing rewards based on neural activity patterns. We successfully achieved stable observation of sharp wave ripples (SWRs) in the hippocampus of the ex vivo brain and elucidated aspects of their generation mechanisms and interhemispheric propagation. We also succeeded in inducing an awake-like state by applying neurotransmitters or preserving sensory organs during brain extraction, enhancing GCaMP6 expression efficiency in cortical neurons, and establishing reliable GABA immunostaining. Moving forward, we will analyze SWR changes following information input to better understand the mechanisms underlying learning.

Free Research Field

神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、摘出全脳において覚醒様状態と記憶関連脳波の再現に成功し、神経活動と学習との因果関係を直接検証できる新たな実験モデルを提示した点で学術的意義が大きい。また、sharp wave rippleの発生機序や情報伝播機構の解明は、記憶形成メカニズムの理解を深め、脳機能障害の治療法開発にも貢献する可能性がある。今後、基礎神経科学のみならず、医療・工学分野への波及効果も期待される。