faculty

Curriculum Vitae

1985 B.E. from the University of Tokyo
1993 M.A. in cognitive and neural systems from Boston University
1999 Ph.D. in engineering from the University of Tokyo
1985-1996 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
1999-2002 Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
2002- Tokyo University of Science

Research Activities

I have been interested in information processing in the brain. Assuming that dynamics of spikes in neural networks contribute to cognitive functions in the brain, we aim to elucidate the mechanism by which the functions emerge from the neural networks dynamics. We have been studying the relationship between neural network dynamics with synaptic plasticity and emergent properties of spike patterns. For example, we showed the possible memory mechanism through the hippocampal formation from the entorhinal cortex(EC), DG, CA3, CA1, and to the EC. In addition, we showed that the state of neural network dynamics affect the function of recall of information memorized in the synaptic weights. Interestingly, the more chaotic the dynamics are, the more stable the spatial firing rates are. In the cortices, synchronous firing patterns are sometimes observed in vivo. We show that spike-timing dependent synaptic plasticity (STDP) may contribute to create synchronous spike patterns in neural networks. According to our numerical experiments, STDP modifies the neural network model to transform a specific spatiotemporal input pattern into a synchronous output. Currently, we are challenge new studies of planning to move using neural network models and brain imaging techniques. We assume our intention or important information is evoked by the dynamics of neural networks, represented as a synchronous activity, and transmitted quickly across the brain. Our studies include following themes: (1) Information generation by chaotic dynamics, (2) Effects of synaptic dynamics on information processing, (3) Visualization of subconscious planning process to action.

Memberships

International Neural Networks Society
The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers
Japanese Neural Network Society