Progress Report
Development of “Jizai Hon-yaku-ki (At-will Translator)” connecting various minds based on brain and body functions[A1] Development of long-term neural indicators linked to mental well-being
Progress until FY2024
1. Outline of the project
In our R&D Item A1, we aim to develop technology to identify components of brain activity that serve as long-term neural indicators of mental “well-going” and read them in real time.
In addition to joy, anger, sadness, and happiness, human emotions include higher-level emotions that are complex mixtures of these emotions. To precisely read the state of the human mind using Jizai Hon-yaku-ki, it is essential to be able to read these higher-level emotions.
In this research project, we are working on developing technology to identify components related to "relieving fear and anxiety (sense of safety)" and "a mind that remains unaffected by emotional disturbances (resilience)" from EEG, fMRI, and MEG signals, and to read these in real time.
2. Outcome so far
- Establishment of novel concurrent EEG-fMRI setup with peripheral physiological measures
- Identification of brain activity markers that show how humans stay mentally stable during emotional stress
- Translational finding: lower excitability in visual areas is linked to resilience in mice and humans
Outcome 1: We established a technically advanced concurrent EEG-fMRI setup with carbon-wire-loop technology during a 3-day fear extinction protocol, also including the appli-cation of light footshocks and the measurement of skin conductance responses. This setup allows us to record human brain activity simultaneously with EEG and fMRI. We can now investigate the neural sigantures reflecting the transition from negative to positive mental/emotional states, such as the transition from fear to safety. In the future, we hope to develop technology for Jizai Hon-yaku-ki, such as measuring brain activity characteristics using wearable devices.
Source: T. O. Bergmann (LIR)
Outcome 2: Our research shows that a key brain region called the right Inferior Frontal Gyrus (IFG) helps keep us focused during emotional situations by regulating activity in the visual cortex and reducing the impact of emotional distractions.
Source: E. Pinzuti & O. Tüscher (LIR)
Source: E. Pinzuti & O. Tüscher (LIR)
Outcome 3: We found in both humans and mice, that lower excitability (lower bursts) in visual areas is linked to better visual performance and protection from stimuli interference, highlighting a shared brain mechanism for resilience across species. We have developed new analysis tools to gain a better understanding of the role of these transient (bursts) activation.
3. Future plans
Going forward, we will utilize newly developed measurement systems and analytical tools from our group to identify the characteristics of brain state transitions between stable and stressed states, as well as between fear and safety, using humans, monkeys, and mice. Furthermore, we aim to compare brain activity patterns across species and link them to various models such as ADHD and ASD, with the goal of establishing cross-species neural markers related to a sense of safety and resilience.
(LIR: T. O. Bergman, O. Tüscher & NIPS: K. Kitajo, Showa Medical U: M. Nakamura, Tohoku U: K.I. Tsutsui)