1月8日担当の神経科学研究部の杉村です。
下記の論文を紹介させていただきます。
よろしくお願いいたします。
Abstract
The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) responds to noxious and innocuous
sensory inputs, and integrates them to coordinate appropriate behavioral
reactions. However, the role of the projections of ACC neurons to
subcortical areas and their influence on sensory processing are not
fully investigated. Here, we identified that ACC neurons projecting to
the contralateral claustrum (ACC→contraCLA) preferentially respond to
contralateral mechanical sensory stimulation. These sensory responses
were enhanced during attending behavior. Optogenetic activation of ACC→
contraCLA neurons silenced pyramidal neurons in the contralateral ACC by
recruiting local circuit fast-spiking interneuron activation via an
excitatory relay in the CLA. This circuit activation suppressed
withdrawal behavior to mechanical stimuli ipsilateral to the ACC→
contraCLA neurons. Chemogenetic silencing showed that the cross-
hemispheric circuit has an important role in the suppression of
contralateral nociceptive behavior during sensory-driven attending
behavior. Our findings identify a cross-hemispheric cortical-subcortical
-cortical arc allowing the brain to give attentional priority to
competing innocuous and noxious inputs.
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