Research on functional networks of neurons underlying processing of various memory

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24243069
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Experimental psychology
• Research Institution: Doshisha University (2016); Kyoto University (2012-2015)
• Principal Investigator: Sakurai Yoshio 同志社大学, 脳科学研究科, 教授 (60153962)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KANEKO TAKESHI 京都大学, 大学院医学研究科, 教授 (90177519) ; AOYAGI TOSHIO 京都大学, 大学院情報学研究科, 教授 (90252486)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 記憶 / 神経回路 / セル・アセンブリ / 海馬 / 扁桃体 / 前頭前野 / ラット

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to experimentally detect activity of functionally connected population of neurons, that is “cell assembly”, underlying various memory processing. We recorded and analyzed multi-neuronal activity of rats performing various memory tasks. The main results are that synchronous activity of neuronal populations between the dorsal hippocampus, amygdala and/or prefrontal cortex appeared when the rats were performing the reward probability discrimination, temporal discrimination, and order discrimination tasks. These findings suggest that activity of macro cell assemblies connecting the different brain region might be the common feature of the mechanisms for processing of various types of memory.

Free Research Field

神経科学、実験心理学