Research Project A02
A02-1 Neural adaptative mechanism for physical changes
Research Outline
Our research group is based on three major Neuroscience hub in japan (NCNP, NICT, TMIMS) and include 18 scientists. Through frequent collaboration and discussion, we would like to find how the embodied brain control our body. Aim of our collaborative study is to know the neural organization of muscle synergy generator and controller using electrophysiology and functional Brain imaging and propose the biomarker of brain plasticity on body representation. In the FY2015, we established 1) Stroke model using common marmoset, 2) understanding the fast and slow dynamics in human body cognition and motor control, and development of new fMRI decoding method, and 3) understanding on the mechanisms used by Purkinje cells to influence limb motor control and on the plastic changes that underlie motor learning in the cerebrocerebellum.
Members
Principal Investigator | Kazuhiko Seki | (Director, NCNP) |
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Co-Investigator* | Eiichi Naito | (Research Manager, CiNet) |
Co-Investigator* | Shinji Kakei | (Project Leader, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science) |
Co-Investigator | Kenichi Inoue | (Assistant Professor, Kyoto University) |
Co-Investigator | Naomichi Ogihara | (Associate Professor, Keio University) |
Co-Investigator | Tatsuya Umeda | (Section Chief, NCNP) |
Co-Investigator | Tomomichi Oya | (Section Chief, NCNP) |
Co-Investigator | Masaya Hirashima | (Senior Researcher, CiNet) |
Co-Investigator | Tsuyoshi Ikegami | (Researcher, CiNet) |
Co-Investigator | Satoshi Hirose | (Researcher, CiNet) |
Co-Investigator | Shintaro Uehara | (Assistant Researcher, CiNet) |
Co-Investigator | Ganesh Gowrishanker | (Researcher, CNRS) |
Co-Investigator | Min Kyonbo | (Senior Researcher, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science) |
Co-Investigator | Lee Zonho | (Senior Researcher, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science) |
Co-Investigator | Takahiro Ishikawa | (Researcher, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science) |
Co-Investigator | Takeru Honda | (Researcher, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science) |
Co-Investigator | Kaoru Amemiya | (Researcher, CiNet) |
Co-Investigator | (Associate Professor, ) | |
Co-Investigator | Hiroshi Mitoma | (Professor, Department of Medical Education, Tokyo Medical University) |
A02-2 Adaptive embodied-brain function due to alteration of the postural-locomotor synergies
Research Outline
The present project is designed to examine cortical and subcortical mechanisms involved in the sensorimotor integration underlying anticipatory postural adjustments (APA) that precede the initiation and execution of voluntary movements. In the 2nd year of this project, experimentation in human beings and animals (monkeys and cats) have been performed. Following findings were obtained. First, APA was a feed-forward control process of controlling posture that requires motor programs and bodily information generated by fronto-parietal cortical network. Second, both the firing rate of the supplementary motor area (SMA) neurons and the contraction of paravertebral and leg muscles were higher during locomotion by biped than quadruped in the monkey. Third, reticulospinal neurons (RSNs) located in the ventral part of the pontomedullary reticular formation
(PMRF), where cortico-reticular neurons abundantly projected from the motor cortical area that was relevant to the SMA in primates, were involved in the increase in the contraction of antigravity muscles of the cat. These results support our hypothesis that cortico-reticulospinal projections, arising from the SMA-ventral PMRF to the spinal cord, may have capability of the execution of APA.
Members
Principal Investigator | Kaoru Takakusaki | (Professor, Asahikawa Medical University) |
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Co-Investigator* | Katsumi Nakajima | (Professor, Iwate Medical University) |
Co-Investigator | Hiroshi Funakoshi | (Professor, Asahikawa Medical University) |
Co-Investigator | Yuriko Sugiuchi | (Associate Professor, Tokyo Medical and Dental University) |
Co-Investigator | Yasuo Higurashi | (Researcher, Kinki University) |
Co-Investigator | Tetsuo Ota | (Professor, Asahikawa Medical University) |
Co-Investigator | Kazuhiro Obara | (Assistant Professor, Asahikawa Medical University) |
Co-Investigator | Mirai Takahashi | (Assistant Professor, Asahikawa Medical University) |
Co-Investigator | Seiji Matsumoto | (Lecturer, Asahikawa Medical University) |
* funded co-investigator