Research Project A03 (2nd period)

A03-1 Visualization of Brain Functional Dynamism by hybrid functional analysis with real-time feedback

Research Outline

The purpose of this project is to create functional templates of different tasks with multi-modality technique to visualize functional dynamism and improve decoding accuracy. We investigate patients with acute and chronic stroke and epilepsy, who frequently have functional modulation and pathological representations. Our system consists of functional decoding and sensory, visual and language feedback to the patients. Long-lasting training with functional feedback would visualize functional dynamism over time.

Member

kamada

Kyosuke KAMADA

Principal Investigator Kyousuke Kamada (Department Head/Professor, Asahikawa Medical University)
Co-Investigator Fumiya Takeuchi (Associate Professor, Asahikawa Medical University)
Co-Investigator Shusei Fukuyama (Assistant Researcher, Asahikawa Medical University)

A03-2 Neural Basis for the Reference Frame and the Functional Synergies in Controlling Eye-head Coordination

Research Outline

In this research area “Embodied-Brain Systems Science”, a new method called NMF (non-negative matrix factorization), has been introduced and seems to have effectively determined muscle synergies in locomotion, posture and arm movements. However, neural substrates for those muscle synergies are mostly yet to be identified. In the vestibulomotor system, activation of each semicircular canal evokes canal-specific eye and head movements. This study is aimed at identifying functional muscle synergies in canal-specific head movements and revealing how they are implemented in neural structures using electrophysiological and anatomical methods.

Members

sugiuchi

Yuriko SUGIUCHI

Principal Investigator Yuriko Sugiuchi (Associate Professor, Tokyo Medical and Dental University)
Co-Investigator Shinji Kakei (Project Leader, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science)

A03-3 Development of assistive technologies for rehabilitation by visualizing neural representation of muscle synergies using electroencephalography

Research Outline

This research project aims to visualize neural signaling and representation of muscle synergies during voluntary movements using non-invasive brain activity signal recording methods. We expect the visualizing technique could reveal transformation of neural signaling and muscle synergy organization by short and long-term motor learning.

Members

yoshimura

Natsue YOSHIMURA

Principal Investigator Natsue Yoshimura (Associate Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology)
Co-Investigator Hiroyuki Kambara (Assistant Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology)
Co-Investigator Yosuke Ogata (Assistant Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology)
Co-Investigator Okito Yamashita (Department Head, Neural Information Analysis Laboratories, ATR)

A03-4 Human Fronto-Parietal Network for Embodied-Brain System: A Combined Electrocorticographic Decoding, Stimulation and Lesion Study

Research Outline

We further develop the inter-group collaboration to establish a comprehensive approach (combining our invasive neurophysiology techniques with decoding, psychology, quantitative behavioral analysis, and functional neuroimaging) for elucidation of the left and right SLFIII network. We, in particular, focus on delineating the fast dynamic alternation (functional impairment) and its transition into slow dynamics alternation (plastic change, reorganization), so that these valuable findings can be translated into clinical neuroscience and finally into patient care. We believe our clinical system neuroscience findings contribute to the Embodied-Brain System Science as important clinical reference data for the construction and verification of engineering models, and the elucidation of the long-term compensatory mechanism by rehabilitation.

Members

matsumoto

Riki MATSUMOTO

Principal Investigator Riki Matsumoto (Professor, Kobe University)
Co-Investigator Akio Ikeda (Professor, Kyoto University)
 Co-Investigator Takeharu Kunieda (Professor, Ehime University)
 Co-Investigator Kazumichi Yoshida (Senior Lecturer, Kyoto University)
 Co-Investigator Masao Matsuhashi (Associate Professor, Kyoto University)
 Co-Investigator Akihiro Shimotake (Assistant Professor, Kyoto University)

A03-5 Understanding the interaction between tactile and nociceptive information in the somatosensory cortex and controlling of nociception

Research Outline

It remains unclear that the representation of somatotopic map of nociception. We will explore the map in the somatosensory cortex by using in vivo imaging and a newly developed noxious stimulation device.

To control the activity of the nociceptive and tactile pathways, we will stimulate these pathways selectively by using optogenetics. Then, we try to understand the interaction between tactile and nociceptive information in the somatosensory cortex and uncover its neural network.

Members

osaki

Hironobu OSAKI

Principal Investigator Hironobu Osaki (Assistant Professor, Tokyo Women’s Medical University)
Co-Investigator Mariko Miyata (Professor, Tokyo Women’s Medical University)
Co-Investigator Yoshifumi Ueta (Assistant Professor, Tokyo Women’s Medical University)
Co-Investigator Goichi Miyoshi (Assistant Professor, Tokyo Women’s Medical University)

A03-6 Body representation changes underlying motor recovery after internal capsular stroke in macaques

Research Outline

This research project aims to investigate changes in neural networks , which are involved in functional compensation during the recovery of dexterous hand movements, using a macaque model of internal capsular stroke. This project also aims to develop a novel technology to monitor changes in activities and networks in motor-related cortical areas during functional recovery after brain damage and to evaluate the possibility for the clinical application in the monitoring of patients.

Members

higo

Noriyuki HIGO

Principal Investigator Noriyuki Higo (Senior Researcher, AIST)
Co-Investigator Yumi Murata (Senior Researcher, AIST)
Co-Investigator Toru Yamada (Senior Researcher, AIST)
Co-Investigator Jun Izawa (Associate Professor, University of Tsukuba)