Elucidation of the Principles of Formation and Function of the Brain Neural Network and Creation of Control Technologies

※ Affiliations and titles are as of the end of the research activity.

Strategic Objective

Clarification of the Control Mechanisms of Neural Circuit Operation and its Formation

Research Supervisor

Seiji Ozawa（Professor, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare）

Overview

　This research area aims to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the generation, development, and regeneration of the brain neural network; to investigate how neural networks composed of a variety of elements in individual brain areas work and express their specific functions; and to clarify how the brain works as a coherent system by integrating the activities of these local networks. On the basis of such research, it also aims to create technologies for controlling the process of formation and activities of the brain neural network.

Specific approaches may include elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of development, differentiation, regeneration, target recognition, and migration of neurons (components of neural networks) and glial cells that significantly influence neural network formation and functions; elucidation of the mode of neural network activities by combining new technologies, such as visualization of specific neurons with the use of specific expression molecules and fluorescent proteins, simultaneous recording of activities of many neurons, and local stimulation with a caged compound; research to clarify the relationship of higher order brain functions with synaptic events through the combination of research at the network and system levels in model animals and research on the regulatory mechanism of synaptic transmission at the molecular and cellular levels; elucidation of the mechanism of neural network reorganization at the critical period or after brain damage; and creation of technologies for intervention in its process.

Research Area Advisors

Tadashi Isa

Harunori Ohmori

Shigeo Okabe

Minoru Kimura

Yoshihisa Kudo

Kenji Kuba

Masatoyo Nishizawa

Sato Honma

Keiji Wada

Year Started: 2009

Research Director

Okamoto Hitoshi (Brain Science Institute, RIKEN)

Tomoki Fukai (Center for Brain Science, RIKEN)
Thomas Mchugh (Brain Science Institute, RIKEN)

Research Director

Yasuo Kawaguchi (Professor)

Yoshiyuki Kubota (Associate Professor, National Institute of Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences)
Fumino Fujiyama (Professor, Doshisha University)

Research Director

Yukiko Gotoh (Professor, The University of Tokyo)

Research Director

Tomoyuki Takahashi (Professor, Doshisha University)

Ryuuichi Shigemoto (Professor)

Research Director

Takahisa Furukawa (Professor, Osaka University)

Masao Tachibana (Professor, The University of Tokyo)

Research Director

Masanori Matsuzaki (Professor)

Yoshikazu Isomura (Professor, Medical and Dental Sciences，, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences，)

Research Director

Hajime Mushiake (Professor, Tohoku University)

Yuchio Yanagawa (Professor, Gunma University)

Research Director

Mori Kensaku (Professor, The University of Tokyo)

Research Director

Michisuke Yuzaki (Professor, School of Medicine, Keio University)

Sakimura Kenji (Professor, Niigata University)
Masahiko Watanabe (Professor, Hokkaido University)

Year Started: 2010

Research Director

Kei Ito (The University of Tokyo)

Research Director

Kenichi Ohki (Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo)

Yoshiaki Tagawa (Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University)

Research Director

Kuniyoshi Sakai (Professor, The University of Tokyo)

Naoki Fukui (Professor)
Yoshihiro Muragaki (Professor, Tokyo Women’s Medical University)

Research Director

Yoshimi Takai (Kobe University)

Akira Mizoguchi (Professor, Mie University)
Jun Miyoshi

Research Director

Haruhiko Bito (Professor, The University of Tokyo)

Kazuya Kikuchi (Professor, Osaka University)
Satoshi Kida (Professor, Tokyo University Of Agriculture)

Research Director

Toshihide Yamashita (Professor, Osaka University)

Masahiko Takada (Researcher, Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior, Kyoto University)
Hideki Mochiduki (Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University)

Year Started: 2011

Research Director

Junichi Nabekura (Director General, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences)

Schuichi Koizumi (Professor, University of Yamanashi)

Research Director

Eiji Hoshi (Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science)

Kazuto Kobayashi (Professor, Fukushima Medical University)
Masahiko Takada (Researcher, Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior, Kyoto University)
Atsushi Nambu (Professor)