No.
1
2023
97

FEATURE

Toward the Developmentof the CiNet Brain
Interview

Realizing the Whole
Brain in a Computer!

Greetings for 2023
3

1

97

Message from the President
1

Greeting for 2023

President Dr. TOKUDA Hideyuki
President of the National Institute of Information
and Communications Technology

Toward the Development of the CiNet Brain
2

4

The pandemic of COVID-19 continues beyond 2020 with no

NICT’s 5th Mid-to-Long Term Plan, which is now in progress,

end in sight, and last year Russia's invasion of Ukraine led tocalls for a system that deals flexibly with social problems on a

global food and energy shortages and soaring prices. Also, theglobal scale and merges cyberspace and physical space. Our aim

Aiming to create a CiNet Brain with a “conscious mind” through the fusionof different fields

Ukrainian mobile phone base stations were destroyed, but many

here is to create a human-centered sustainable and inclusive

people were able to continue information transmission andsociety known as safe and secure Society 5.0.

KITAZAWA Shigeru

administrative services via Starlink satellites. If we imagine a

To this end, we are making steady progress in the four strategic

world where information from Ukraine was cut off and only one-

research fields of Beyond 5G, AI, quantum ICT, and cybersecurity.

sided information (fake news, etc.) was sent from Russia, theIn Beyond 5G, we are taking the lead in international activities

world would have been misunderstood. It was a year in which wetoward technology development and standardization in such areas

once again recognized, the importance of the robustness andas terahertz communications, non-terrestrial networks, and space-resilience of our country's information infrastructure, non-time synchronization technology. We are also supporting moreterrestrial networks, and national security.

than 60 R&D projects in our Beyond 5G R&D Promotion Project.

Realizing the Whole Brain in a Computer!

Roundtable Talk among Young CiNet Researchers
Our Visions for the CiNet Brain
KASHIOKA Hideki / KAIJU Taro / SHIBUSAWA Shuka / OKUMURA Toshiki

6
Cover Photo:(Top) CiNet’s motto displayed in thefirst-floor hall
CiNet’s first Director General, Prof. YANAGIDA Toshio, proposed CiNet’s motto as“omoroi kenkyu” (unique and interesting
research), urging researchers to advance“research that is not merely ‘interesting,’
but that inspires deep emotions.” Current
Director General Prof. KITAZAWA Shigeru
is carrying on the spirit of his predecessor,
under the slogan “more omoroi researchfrom Osaka.”(Bottom Left) Open working space
This spacious and open multi-purpose
working space with its high ceilings is located on the basement floor. Researchers
are free to use this space in addition totheir own labs for such purposes as studying materials and writing papers.

Improving Brain Function in Older Adults to Enhance Their Motor andCognitive Functions

7T-MRI Scanner that Measures Brain Activity with High
Resolution
KIDA Ikuhiro / WADA Atsushi / KASHIOKA Hideki

10

ELSI Studies of CiNet Brain Social Implementation
Towards Increased Social Acceptance of Brain Information andCommunication Technology

TAGUCHI Takahisa / NISHITSUTSUMI Yu

Thus, the importance of ICT is becoming increasingly

In AI, we are advancing steadily in a variety of fields including AI

significant. Telework and hybrid communication using web

simultaneous interpretation as targeted by the Japanese

conferencing, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, aregovernment’s Global Communication Plan 2025 (GCP 2025), theexpected to realize a richer communication environment byuse of big data, and the merging of AI with the research of brain

utilizing metaverse, cybernetic avatars and digital twins. In

information communication. In quantum ICT, we are making

addition to the communication field, environmental sensing andgreat strides from joint field experiments with domestic andforecasting techniques such as the prediction of torrential rain,overseas collaborating institutions to actual applications. Finally,

space weather forecasting technology that observes and predicts

in cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Nexus activities are gaining

environmental changes in space, and increasingly applicable andmomentum as an industry-government-academia hub forsophisticated machine learning and AI technologies, the evolution

improving cybersecurity abilities within Japan based on dataof new ICT will expand our living space.

accumulated over many years and knowledge of human resource

It is important to realize a society in which everyone can play

12

Report on the 12th CiNet Symposium
and Announcement of CiNet Conference 2023
HARUNO Masahiko / HAGURA Nobuhiro(Bottom Right) Discussion room
Upper left Photo:
Discussion room located next to thefirst floor lobby
The discussion room is available for CiNet
members to engage in discussions together at any time. It is the venue for various interactions, including during daily
coffee breaks or after special lectures. It
is also used regularly for internal CiNet
receptions and gatherings, where all people, regardless of rank, position or job cancome together to exchange information.

Human Performance Improvement Project
NAITO Eiichi

8

Dr. TOKUDA Hideyuki

13development.

an active role freely, free from temporal, spatial, and physical

At NICT, we are committed to promoting industry-

constraints, and in which social issues can be solved and economic

government-academia collaborative activities and continuously

development can be sustained.

expanding ICT while listening to the opinions of a wide range ofAs Japan’s sole national research and development institution

citizens and cooperating or even competing on a friendly basis

NICT's Challenger File 23 HAYASHI Masamichi

specializing in the field of ICT, NICT aims to promote the re-with domestic and overseas stakeholders. In this endeavor, I look

Elucidating How the Brain Represents Temporal Information and Developing
Technologies to Manipulate the Subjective Experience of Timesearch and development of ICT through an integrated approachforward to your continued support and cooperation.

ranging from fundamental to applied research. At the same time,

In closing, I pray that this year will be a wonderful andwe will pursue collaborations with universities, industry, local

enriching time for everyone. Please accept my heartfelt New

governments, and domestic and overseas research institutions toYear’s greetings.

return R&D results throughout society and foster innovation.

NICT NEWS 2023 No.1

1

Toward the Development of
the CiNet Brain

Realizing the Whole Brain in a Computer!
Aiming to create a CiNet Brain with a “conscious mind”
through the fusion of different fields
The Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), operated jointly by NICT and
Osaka University, is at the center of R&D efforts to create an artificial brain capable of seeing,
hearing, and feeling, one that is possessed with empathy and able to understand humor.
Researchers from almost every brain-related field, including brain science, information andcommunications technology (ICT), brain-machine interface (BMI), brain function measurement, and robotics, are all working together on this initiative. The ultimate aim is to create an
artificial CiNet Brain with the same depth of feeling and empathy, or mind, as a human brain.
In this article, we talked to KITAZAWA Shigeru, Director General of CiNet, a leading institution in “whole brain science” research.

―You were appointed director generalof CiNet in April this year. What was yourmotivation to start research in this field?
KITAZAWA In my student days, I studied
physiology at medical school under Prof.
ITO Masao, who was famous for his cerebellar research. At that time, working in the Faculty of Engineering of the same university
was Prof. AMARI Shunichi, who had formulated a methodology known as backpropagation that is widely used in neural networks. In
the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prof.
SHIMIZU Hiroshi had proposed the conceptof bioholonics, which posits that structure isself-organized in the field of life.
It being a time when tremendous advances were being made in brain science and AI,
I became interested in the mechanism bywhich the brain understands language andwhy consciousness emerges. I began mybrain science research with the idea of trying
to see if it was possible to model the entire

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NICT NEWS 2023 No.1

function of the brain in a simple way.
In 1991, I became an assistant professor at
the Faculty of Medicine of the University ofTokyo and from 1994, I joined the Electrotechnical Laboratory (currently the National
Institute of Advanced Industrial Science andTechnology). The research I started then wason “optimization of reaching movementswith the hand.” When we examined acceleration of hand movements, we found that these
movements were actually optimized in termsof physics-based principles.
Next, I began research on perception oftime and space, which is still ongoing. Oneof the problems relating to spatial awarenessis known as the saccadic problem. The eyeballs are always moving rapidly at a rate ofabout three times per second, but somehow
the image that the eye sees always appears
to be stationary without any shakiness. This
problem had already been addressed in the10th century by Arabian philosopher Ibn
al-Haytham, and was subsequently also ob-

KITAZAWA Shigeru
Director General,
Center for Information and Neural Network (CiNet),
Advanced ICT Research Institute
After receiving his doctoral degree, he worked for National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science andTechnology, and Juntendo University. Then he became
professor at Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences,
Osaka University in 2011. Current position from April
2022. Ph.D. (Medicine).

served by Descartes and Helmholtz.
We don’t pay any attention to the problem in our daily lives, but I thought that there
must be something deeper behind the phenomenon. These problems led me to pursue
a career in brain science research.

■ A Researcher-first Research
Environment―Having joined CiNet, do you find any
difference from universities?
KITAZAWA What makes CiNet different
from universities is its finances. For example,
CiNet has a total of four functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI) machines for research purposes and magnetoencephalography (MEG) equipment, and it is rare for universities in Japan to have such equipment. In
addition to the outstanding research facilities,
CiNet also has dedicated technicians who canoperate and maintain the highly specialized
equipment, enabling researchers to concen-

trate purely on their research. At universities,
maintenance work is usually left to young assistant professors, who have to sacrifice theirresearch time to do it.
Another key point, which may seem tobe not directly related to research, is theinclusion of a discussion room next to thefirst-floor lobby area. It’s a great place forresearchers from different fields to come together and interact with one another when
they are temporarily able to step away fromtheir experiments. I believe that such a space
can inspire many different ideas and insights.
At CiNet, there are researchers from various brain science-related fields. In addition
to researchers in neuroscience, ICT, BMI,
sensing, imaging, and robotics, there are also
psychology and philosophy researchers involved, meaning that we are truly a diverse
collection of researchers from various fields.
My predecessor, Prof. YANAGIDA
Toshio, proposed the concept of “omoroi”(meaning “unique and interesting”) research,and my aim is to add just one word to that concept: “motto” (meaning “more”) “omoroi”
research. To borrow Prof. Yanagida’s words,“omoroi” research is something profoundthat “seems to well up from the bottom ofyour heart and shake you to your core.” It isvery important for each and every researcher
to continue with research they believe to be“omoroi.” If it is truly “omoroi,” the research
will continue to grow and expand.
―What is CiNet aiming to achieve?
KITAZAWA Americanmathematician
and “father of information theory” Claude
Shannon wrote in A Mathematical Theory ofCommunication, his famous paper publishedin 1948, that “…semantic aspects of communication are irrelevant to the engineering
problem.” As soon as you turn information
into a digital quantity, it loses its meaning.
Feelings and emotions such as pain, sadness,and happiness can only be expressed in theform of a numeric symbol.
The conversion of information into
symbols has greatly improved computing
technologies and made our lives more convenient, but in order to realize an AI with aconscious and empathetic mind, we must restore the “meaning” of information. It is only
after the original meaning is restored that

information can make any emotional connection with people.

■ CiNet Brain, an AGI with a Human
Mind―It is said that artificial intelligence(AI) might exceed the capacity of the human brain. What are your thoughts on
this?
KITAZAWA There is a great deal of attention being focused on when AI will surpass
human capabilities. In some specific areas,
like shogi and go, AI has already exceeded
human capabilities, and even professional
shogi players cannot beat AI. Many professionals refer to the moves of AI to improvetheir abilities. In the field of medicine too, AI
is far more accurate and quicker at finding
anomalies than doctors.
So, what makes AI different to humans?
Even though AI is now better than humans atshogi and go, it finds no enjoyment in playing these games. Neither is it the case that AI
performs diagnostic imaging out of a noble
sense of mission to cure disease.
This is where CiNet Brain comes in, whichis the research project that we are working
on. CiNet Brain is an artificial general intelligence (AGI) that possesses the ability tothink for itself and have emotions or, in otherwords, to have a human mind. It is an AI thatis capable of thinking not just about itself, but
about the entire environment around it, andpossesses a social consciousness.
In order to realize such intelligence witha conscious mind, AI also needs to have abody. A newborn baby without any knowledge of the world starts exploration first by
crawling, and remembers physical experiences, such as the sensation of pain when bumping
into things, or the warmth of its mother’s skin.
However, even though AI might be able
to list many types and examples of pain, it
cannot sense pain itself. I want to create an
AI with qualia (subjective, conscious experiences) that can physically experience theworld. That is CiNet Brain.

Brain to be friendly enough and trustworthy
enough not to cause fear. We want to be open
and considerate when explaining to society
what we do.
ELSI is an acronym that stands for ethical, legal, and social issues. It refers to the
non-technical challenges that we must strive
to overcome when introducing new scienceand technology in society.
In that sense, insights from philosophy arevitally important in developing AI. How themind resides in the brain has been a major
issue for philosophy since the time of Descartes. Regarding ELSI, we believe that not
only consideration of ethical aspects, but also
research that integrates philosophy will benecessary.
― What do you expect from CiNet
researchers?
KITAZAWA Each of us must find an“omoroi” research theme and research it
deeply. This is the key. If you continue to
conduct “omoroi” research that shakes you toyour core, it will surely be accepted aroundthe world. If you do good research, you will
attract young people. To achieve this, I think
it is important to continue to conduct and disseminate research that moves young people.
CiNet Brain combines all functions of thehuman brain. Since the brain develops withall of the elements that humans possess, including motor skills, social skills, cognition,and ethics, any research that is related to thebrain will help to realize CiNet Brain. That is
why we need the cooperation of researchers
from many different fields and disciplines.
―What are your ambitions for the
future.
KITAZAWA My goal is to realize an AI,
CiNet Brain with a mind. If our mind resides in our brains, I believe that CiNet Brainshould also have a mind. It is a difficult task,
but I hope to realize CiNet Brain within ten
years.

■ Challenges beyond Technical issues―Might people not fear an intelligencethat surpasses human capabilities?
KITAZAWAIt is important for CiNet
NICT NEWS 2023 No.1

3

SHIBUSAWA When I was in high school, I chose a university where
I could major in brain science. However, there was just one lab involved in brain science. At CiNet, everyone is working on brain science, which is why I like it so much.
OKUMURA Previously I was in the faculty of agriculture at university to study human brain function. Around that time, I came to CiNet
to do joint research. It made me realize I could devote myself to brain
research if I stayed at CiNet.
KAIJU Another good point is that CiNet is on the campus of Osaka
University, meaning that it is easy to interact with the teaching staffof the university. I had determined that if I was going to study brain
science, CiNet would be the best place to do it.

Roundtable Talk
among Young
CiNet Researchers

Our Visions for
the CiNet Brain
What is the research life for CiNet researchers,
who lead the brain science in Japan?

How does your research link to the CiNet Brain project?
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NICT NEWS 2023 No.1

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We interviewed three young researchers.

KASHIOKA We are holding this roundtable discussion to ask young
researchers who are actively engaged in their research about theirimage and impressions of CiNet. Let’s kick off by hearing from eachof you about your own research.
KAIJU I’m studying the brain-machine interface (BMI), which extracts brain activity in the form of signals and uses these to operateassistive devices such as a robotic hand just by thinking. Brain activity is basically the electrical activity of the neurons, but as the signals
are very weak, it is extremely difficult to precisely measure themexternally. We are working to develop very high-definition electrodes for stable and reliable recording of these weak activities. We
are also developing more effective signal decoding methods in order
to better understand the intentions of a user from their brain activity.
SHIBUSAWA I’m doing researches using an MEG (Magnetoencephalography). MEG is a device which measures weak brain magnetic
fields generated by neuronal electrical activities. However, the magnetic field is extremely weak, less than one 100 millionth of geomagnetism (which is 46 microtesla in the vicinity of Tokyo), so MEG isrequired to measure in a magnetically-shielded room. MEG is a
non-invasive method that can be measured on the scalp and featureshigh temporal resolution in the millisecond level.
I am investigating how visual, auditory, and other stimuli affectbrain rhythms, such as alpha oscillations, and developing the method
for expanding human brain functions.
OKUMURA I’m studying the relationship between the sense of smell
and brain function using functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI). One of the advantages of fMRI is that it has higher spatial
resolution than other non-invasive neuroimaging techniques. In particular, using ultra-high fields (UHF) fMRI, it is possible to measure
the brain activity and structure in fine detail.
UHF fMRI can detect differences even among the six layers of thecerebral cortex. Even so, measuring the activity in olfactory areas ischallenging due to the poor signal-to-noise (SN) ratio.
Through my research, I aim to measure in detail what areas of thefemale researchers to play an active role, we can create a better environment for the next generation.
KASHIOKA Yes, the proportion of female researchers at CiNet is notvery large, is it?
SHIBUSAWA Only a few of the principal investigators (PIs) are
women. In order to enable women to continue their research withpeace of mind as they have life events such as marriage and childbirth, CiNet needs to create systems that make it easier for women tobuild their careers.
KAIJU For researchers, if there are any gaps in their cycle of producing research papers, it can affect career advancement, and this also
makes it difficult for male researchers to take childcare leave. We
need to make it easier for male researchers to get involved in caring
for their children.

       brain are activated when we smell something, and to examinecross-modal processing (related to different sensory information being mutually influenced and recognized).

Appeal of CiNet
KASHIOKA You are all using fMRI and MEG in your research. Whatdo you consider to be the advantages of the research environment at
CiNet?
SHIBUSAWA MEG is used mainly in the medical field and limited inresearch field due to difficulties in maintenance and management.
However, in CiNet, as the research technical staffs who has advanced
knowledge about operation and maintenance supports us even noprevious experience about MEG, we can use it with confidence.
OKUMURA I feel completely the same. Besides that, at CiNet, since
there is one 7-tesla fMRI machine and three 3-tesla fMRI machines, I
feel that there are few scheduling conflicts among researchers. I thinkhaving such research environment is one of CiNet’s appealing points.
KAIJU I particularly appreciate the fact that there are so many researchers with a wealth of experience so close by. One of the appeals
for me is that in open spaces like the cafeteria, I can engage in communication with researchers from diverse fields. I believe that thisopen and refreshing environment, coupled with the stimulation of
encountering novel ideas that I have not considered before, will leadto new advances in my own research.

What led you to study brain science?
KASHIOKA What was it that led each of you to want to study brain
science?

KASHIOKA What are your thoughts on the realization of CiNet Brain,
the modelling of the entire human brain that CiNet hopes to achieve?
SHIBUSAWA I currently research how we can approach individual
differences in human brain activity. I am interested in how such individual differences could be reflected in CiNet Brain.
OKUMURA I also think that investigating individual differences is achallenge. Olfactory perception varies from person to person, anddifferent people would feel the same odor differently. This difference
among individuals seems to be greater for olfaction than for sight andhearing, so one of my future research themes will be how to consider
such individual differences into the model of the entire human brain.
KAIJU My aim is to create a neural sensor that will measure the brain
in fine detail, so that we can read out everything about the brain, including individual differences. My understanding of CiNet Brain’s
approach is to first thoroughly examine the entire brain, and thencreate a brain simulator on a computer in the second step. Is that interpretation right?
KASHIOKA Yes, that’s right. Firstly, we aim to take a detailed look at
the various functions of individual parts of the brain and then, as asecond step, connect these detailed functions at a more advanced level. Next, we will look at what activities are going on at the wholebrain level. Our image for the completed CiNet Brain could be likened to a flood disaster, where rather than just accurately reading information about how many houses have been washed away by
watching a video of the damage, it is possible to monitor the entire
situation and how it unfolds, and combine this with common sense in
making a decision to “go and help.”
I hope that in about ten years from now, all the knowledge gained
from your research will have been integrated to realize CiNet Brain.

Dreams and outlook for the future
KASHIOKA What are your expectations of CiNet and your dreams forthe future?
SHIBUSAWA When developing new technologies, it is imperative toconsider safety aspects. There are professionals for safety assessment
at NICT, and I hope that we can realize even more advanced research,while continuing to fulfil various safety requirements.
KAIJU In invasive BMI research, researchers need to be extremely
careful about assessing safety aspects. At the same time, Osaka university has a wide range of research departments, so one of CiNet’s
strengths is that it can draw on the advice of many such experts invarious fields. I hope to continue my research with the guidance andsupport of Osaka University faculty members.
OKUMURA With physical phenomena, it is possible to make the margin of error smaller and smaller and ultimately create a mathematicalformula. With life phenomena, however, although they can be understood statistically and probabilistically, it is no simple matter to convert them into a mathematical formula like physical phenomena. My
research dream is to describe life phenomena mathematically without
any errors.
KASHIOKA That’s a dream very close to the vision for CiNet Brain.
I would like to thank all of you for joining in this discussion today.
Let’s all work together towards our common goal of realizing CiNet
Brain.

Challenges of research life at CiNet
KASHIOKA Until now, we’ve focused on the positive aspects of
CiNet, but are there any areas that you think could be improved?
OKUMURA There are too many administrative procedures relating toresearch. I understand the need for checks of course, but even whenpurchasing something small that is needed for research purposes, wehave to do so much admin.
SHIBUSAWA I am a first-year researcher, and I feel that there arevery few senior female researchers who can act as role models for mycareer. I expect that by encouraging current young and mid-career
NICT NEWS 2023 No.1

5

FEATURE

Toward the Development of the CiNet Brain

Human Performance Improvement Project
Improving Brain Function in Older Adults to Enhance Their Motor and Cognitive
Functionsn Japan, the population is aging at
a rate unparalleled in other countries. The desire to enjoy an active life
with a healthy brain and body is common
to all people, but it is inevitable that brain
and body functions deteriorate as we age.
However, these functions can be improved
through training. Here, we show that training can improve the decline in the inhibitory function of the nervous system typicallyseen in the brains of older adults and improve their motor function.

I

NAITO Eiichi
Director of Brain Networks and Communication Laboratory,
Center for Information and Neural
Networks (CiNet),
Advanced ICT Research Institute
After finishing graduate school, he
worked as an assistant professor at
Kyoto University and a senior researcher at Advanced Telecommunications
Research Institute International before
joining NICT in 2011. 2021-present, he isengaged in research on human sensory
and motor functions using MRI. He is aninvited professor at the Graduate Schoolof Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University. PhD (Human and Environmental
Studies).

■Background
Currently, in Japan, the percentage ofthe total population aged 65 and over is approaching 30%, the highest in the world,
and this percentage is expected to continue
to increase in the future. While the desire
to remain healthy and enjoy life as we age
is common to many people, it is also truethat brain and body functions decline withage. However, this phenomenon is by nomeans irreversible, and these functions canbe improved through training. Understanding
the exact causes of the decline in brain andbody functions of older adults and improving
these functions is an important issue in our
super-aging society. Our group at the Center
for Information and Neural Networks is developing a human performance improvement
project that focuses on motor and cognitive
functions, clarifies the causes of these functional declines, and aims to improve thesefunctions.

■Functional Decline in Inhibitory
Systems in the Brains of Older
AdultsFor the brain to function properly, thebalance between excitation and inhibitionin the nervous system is extremely important. Inhibition is essential for the brain system to operate in an orderly and rule-based

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NICT NEWS 2023 No.1

manner. When we measure brain activity
with functional magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) while a person is performing a task, in
addition to brain activity called the positive
blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD)
signal, we can also measure the inhibition ofbrain activity called the negative BOLD signal. For example, when a person is processing visual information, the brain inhibits theauditory cortex, which is not needed for this,and likewise inhibits the visual cortex during
auditory information processing. This typeof inhibition is called cross-modal inhibition
and is thought to be a mechanism by which aperson inhibits other sensory areas in order
to concentrate on processing information for
one sense.
Such an inhibitory mechanism also exists
in the motor cortex, which is located in theleft and right cerebral hemispheres. This is
an interhemispheric inhibitory mechanism
mediated by nerve fibers called the corpus
callosum, which connects the left and rightmotor cortices. In general, hand movementsare "primarily" controlled by the contralateral motor cortex. Interhemispheric inhibition
is a neural mechanism that inhibits the rightmotor cortex to prevent unintended movements of the left hand while the right hand ismoving, for example.
Functional MRI of young adults during
a simple right-hand sensory-motor taskshows increased activity in the contralateral (left) motor cortex and decreased activity(inhibition) in the ipsilateral (right) motor
cortex. This inhibition is thought to be due
to interhemispheric inhibition from theleft motor cortex to the right motor cortex.
On the other hand, when brain activity wasmeasured in older adults of over 65 years inage, it was found that this inhibition disappeared in approximately 60% of these older
adults (Figure 1). It has also been found thatthe cross-modal inhibition described above
also is reduced or has disappeared in many

Figure 1

Deterioration of interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) in older adults

older people. Although there are other inhibitory mechanisms in the brain besides
the cross-modal and interhemispheric inhibitions, it seems that the inhibitory functionin the aging brain has generally deteriorated.

■Bimanual Coordination Training
Reactivates Inter-hemisphericInhibition and Improves Hand
Dexterity
Using the abovementioned right-handsensory-motor task (Figure 1), further investigation of interhemispheric inhibition in older adults revealed that older individuals with
reduced or lost interhemispheric inhibition
from the left motor cortex to the right motor
cortex were less dexterous with their righthand fingers (Figure 2A). In this study, hand
dexterity was assessed by a test called the peg
task. The task involved removing one peg at
a time from a board with pegs stuck in it, rotating it, and returning it to its original hole.
Dexterity was assessed by the time it took tocomplete this for all 12 pegs (time requiredfor peg task). It is said that the dexterity ofa hand is mainly achieved through control
by the contralateral motor cortex. If the ipsilateral motor cortex becomes involved in
the control of movements as a result of reduced interhemispheric inhibition, this activity interferes with the precise control by thecontralateral motor cortex, and this may be
the cause of the reduced dexterity. If the decline of interhemispheric inhibition is one of
the causes of deterioration of hand dexterity,then if interhemispheric inhibition can be reactivated by training, hand dexterity can be
expected to improve as well.
Therefore, we examined this effect by di-

Figure 2

Bimanual training improves interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) and hand dexterity

viding right-handed healthy older participants
aged 65-75 into two groups and training themfor two months. In the 2-month training, one
group was designated as the bimanual groupand the other group as the right-hand group.
Before the training, there were no differencesin hand dexterity or interhemispheric inhibition between the two groups. The bimanualgroup underwent coordination training inwhich different movements were performed
simultaneously with the left and right fingers (Figure 2 middle panel). This training
required the left and right motor cortices tocontrol each hand independently and was expected to train interhemispheric inhibition effectively. The right-hand group trained only
the right hand.
During the training, both groups did notreceive any training on the peg task itself.
However, after the training, the bimanualgroup showed improved hand dexterity. On
the other hand, no such improvement was observed in the right-hand group. Further analysis revealed that in the bimanual group only,
hand dexterity was more improved in older
participants who showed better improvement
in interhemispheric inhibition assessed in theright-hand sensory-motor task after training
compared to before training (Figure 2B). In
other words, bilateral hand-finger coordination training effectively improved ipsilateralmotor cortex inhibition (interhemispheric inhibition) in older adults with reduced inhibitory function, and improved their right-handfinger dexterity. This research was conductedin collaboration with a sporting goods manufacturer, and the results are currently being
applied to an exercise program that the company is developing in society for improving

the motor function of older people.

■Future Prospects
The results presented here show that the
age-related decline in inhibitory function is
not irreversible and can be improved throughtraining, and that improvement of this inhibitory mechanism can also lead to improved
behavior. While conventional brain training
has focused on activating the brain, we haveshown for the first time that brain function
can be improved by improving the inhibitory
mechanisms of the brain. In the future, we intend to develop training programs that target
the declined inhibition found in other brain
regions, and while verifying their effectiveness, we aim to propose training programs
that can improve interlimb (hand and foot)coordination and the ability to perform cognitive and motor tasks simultaneously, which
are required in situations such as driving acar.

NICT NEWS 2023 No.1

7

FEATURE

Toward the Development of the CiNet Brain

Knee joint image (for comparison)

Sodium imaging

7T-MRI Scanner that Measures Brain Activity with High
Resolution
3 min. image

Figure 1

he Center for Information and Neural
Networks (CiNet) is measuring brain
activity in high resolution, storing the vastquantities of data that are generated, andanalyzing these data with the aim of realizing next-generation artificial intelligence
technologies utilizing brain information.
Such research activities require the installation of 7T-MRI systems for high-resolution
measurement of brain activity, as well as
the construction of brain-information data
storage and processing infrastructure forstoring and analyzing brain-activity data.
It is now 10 years since research facilities
were first opened in the central researchbuilding in 2013, and work is underway to
update the existing devices and machines
in order to achieve further breakthroughs.
This article introduces the features and utilization methods of the various devices andmachines that are being updated.

T

KIDA Ikuhiro

Associate Director of Brain Function
Analysis and Imaging Laboratory,
Center for Information and Neural
Networks (CiNet), Advanced ICT
Research Institute
After completing his doctorial course,
he worked at Yale University for 6 andhalf years. He moved to Hokkaido University ,then worked at Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science.
He joined NICT in 2012. Ph.D.(Science)■7T-MRI Equipment Measures Brain
Activity in High Resolution

WADA Atsushi

Senior Researcher,
Brain Function Analysis and Imaging
Laboratory, Center for Information
and Neural Networks (CiNet),
Advanced ICT Research Institute
After completing master course, heworked as a researcher in ATR. He joined
NICT in 2009. He has been engaging inAI, neuroimaging, visual neuroscience,etc. Ph.D.(Informatics)

KASHIOKA Hideki
Managing Director,
Center for Information and Neural
Networks (CiNet), Advanced ICT
Research Institute
After completing his doctorial course,
he worked at ATR. He joined NICT in
2006. He engaged in research of Machine translation. Ph.D.(Engineering).

8

NICT NEWS 2023 No.1

In recent years, the ultra-high field MRI
landscape has changed significantly. Some
7T-MRI scanners for human use (the MAGNETOM Terra by Siemens Healthcare in
2017, and the SIGNA 7.0T MRI by GE
Healthcare in 2020) have been granted a
CE mark in Europe and certification by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Although examinations are currently limited tothe head and limbs only, these scanners are
becoming more actively utilized in clinicaltesting in Europe and the U.S. The new MR
scanner that will be introduced at CiNet isthe MAGNETOM Terra (Figure 1) by Siemens Healthcare, which received approval in
2017. As it has yet to be approved under the
Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Act inJapan, initially, it will be used solely for research. There are 37 of these scanners globally, with confirmed plans for 10 new scanners(as of October 2022). CiNet will be the first
institution in Japan to introduce such a scanner. The information contained in this article
is therefore not based on actual experience ofusing the scanner, but on information provid-

ed by Siemens Healthcare.

■MR Scanner
The new 7T-MRI system is more compact than earlier models, with a length of 3 m(magnet: 2.8 m), compared to 3.8 m (magnet:
3.3 m) for the old equipment. The old system was large enough to fit the entire humanbody into the magnet for head imaging, but
the new system fits up to the subject’s knees.
In comparison, the 3T-MRI system is evensmaller, with the subject’s entire lower body
protruding from the magnet. Besides the size,
the new system is also much lighter, weighing in at less than 20 tons compared to theprevious system’s weight of more than 40
tons. This reduced weight allows for the system to be transported via temperature-controlled air freight in less than 24 hours, rather
than being shipped by sea, which used to takeseveral months. This significantly shortens
installation time, including setting up themagnet. Despite its smaller size and weight,
the new system features various new technologies. The magnet features an active shieldthat reduces magnetic field leakage throughthe placement of a coil in the opposite direction to the coil that generates the static magnetic field. Combined with the existing ironmagnetic shield, this will narrow the 5-gaussleakage field that used to extend almost up
to the door of the operations room (approx.
11 m). However, as in the past, caution stillneeds to be taken over bringing in magnetized items. The system also features “zerohelium boil-off technology,” which eliminates the need for liquid helium to cool thesuperconducting magnet, in turn reducing
operating costs.

■MRI CoilThe head coil is engineered for 8-channel parallel transmission of RF pulses in the
research imaging mode, as well as single
transmission in the normal imaging mode,in conjunction with the 32-channel receivercoil. On the old system, switching between
imaging modes would take at least 10 minutes, but with the new system, switching now
takes just a few minutes. A multiple-array

New 7T-MRI machine to be Installed

coil on the receiving side is important for parallel imaging techniques and can reduce scantime, while parallel transmission techniques
are effective against uneven image intensity
due to shortened transmission pulses arisingfrom increased strength in the magnetic field.
The new system can handle up to 16-ch transmission / 64-ch receiving coils. In addition to
the head coil, the new system also features
a 1-ch transmission / 28-ch receiving coilcapable of imaging knee joints and limbs.
As limbs are not as large as the head, evenwith a single transmission, an even image
equivalent to 3T-MRI can be obtained, andthe increased magnetic field strength makes
high-resolution imaging possible (Figure 2(left)). The two coils target protons, a commonly-used MR imaging technique, and aloop coil (1-ch transmission / 1-ch receiving)targeting phosphorus (31P) and a head-coilwith 1-ch transmission / 32-ch receiving for
sodium imaging (23Na) are also being introduced on the new system. The 31P coil canobtain information on cellular metabolism,
while the 23Na coil enables images of sodium
to be captured, which is present in extracellular fluid and plays a role in maintaining homeostasis (Figure 2 (right)).

■Peripheral Equipment
A clip-on-camera (by Skope) capable ofmeasuring fluctuations in the magnetic field
will also be installed. The magnetic field fluctuates due to body movements such as the
subject’s breathing and pulse, as well as system operations (eddy currents, mechanicalvibrations). When conducting measurements
over a long period of time, fluctuations in themagnetic field can degrade image quality andresult in artifacts during measurement. The
clip-on-camera makes it possible to directly
measure both long-term and short-term magnetic field fluctuations directly. By using that
information in image reconstruction processing, it is possible to reduce image distortionand ghosting, and improve signal-to-noise
ratio. In addition, the new system will also
include a 32-ch electroencephalograph compatible with ultra-high field MRI and video
display goggles, and headphones set with eye

Provided by Siemens Healthcare

4:28 min. image

Figure 2 7T MR imaging

movement measurement for stimulation.

■Construction of Brain-Information
Data Storage and Processing
Infrastructure
CiNet is constantly amassing vast quantities of brain-measurement data, using
high-performance, large-scale brain measurement devices (4 MRI and 1 MEG). By
accumulating this vast amount of brain data
and applying large-scale data analysis, weare investigating brain mechanisms, including perception, cognition, emotion, decision-making, motor control, social behavior,and language. Based on these understandings, we accelerate the development of novel
neurotechnologies such as brain-information
decoding and brain-based artificial intelligence (AI). For this aim, we will introduce
a new petabyte-scale storage system for massive brain-measurement data and a high-performance computing cluster for large-scale
brain data analysis. The features of these systems are detailed below.
Brain-data storage
Aiming to accumulate the vast quantities of
MRI and MEG data collected at CiNet, we are
introducing a large-scale storage systemwith an effective capacity of 20 petabytes.
We have adopted decentralized storagearchitecture, which enables both effective
data protection of valuable brain-measurement data and the high access performance required for large-scale data analysis. The use of Lustre, a parallel file systemwith a proven track record in high-performance computing, realizes high-speed
connectivity between storage systems andcomputer servers (up to 200 Gbps between
each node) via dedicated interconnects.
This configuration enables multiple computation processes running simultaneously
across different computing nodes to accesslarge-scale data. We have additionally introduced an all-flash storage (effective capacity of 470 terabytes) consisting solely of solid-state drives (SSDs), which allows for dataprocessing with high-frequency access(high input/output operations per second

7:38 min. image

Provided by Siemens Healthcare(IOPS)). The introduction of these two typesof storage for brain-measurement data realizes a distinct data storage environment
capable of performing, in parallel, multiple
brain-data analyses with different data sizes
and access patterns.
Brain-data analysis computing cluster
We are constructing a high-performancecomputing cluster capable of large-scale
brain data analysis. We have introduced
16 general-purpose computing servers
equipped with large memory capacity(4TB/unit) and 10 GPU servers (8 with 1 GPU
and 2 with 8 GPUs) equipped with the latest
high-performance GPGPU (NVIDIA A100).
They are connected to the brain-data storage system via the abovementioned dedicated interconnects to achieve high-speed
node-to-node data access. This configuration provides a high-performance computing environment that meets the computational requirements for brain-ICT research
on a larger scale, including functional andstructure analyses of the brain using large
volumes of brain-measurement data, AI
model construction that requires highload GPGPU computation, and modelingof brain-information representation withlarge-scale matrix calculations that requirelarge volumes of memory.

■Future Prospects
In the new 7T-MRI system, the multi-transmission technologies and clip-on-camera
technology will enable improvements in ultra-high field MRI performance. In addition,in the brain-information data storage and processing infrastructure that will be constructed, we will prepare an environment that enables the efficient storage and processing ofsuch data. By taking full advantage of thesevarious systems, we aim to further advancehuman brain function research from high-resolution brain-activity measurement.

NICT NEWS 2023 No.1

9

FEATURE

Toward the Development of the CiNet Brain

ELSI Studies of CiNet Brain Social Implementation
Towards Increased Social Acceptance of Brain Information and Communication
Technology
uring the 10 years since its estab-

D lishment, the Center for Information

TAGUCHI Takahisa
Associate Director General,
Center for Information and Neural
Network (CiNet),
Advanced ICT Research Institute
He joined NICT in 2013. Before coming
to NICT, he worked at Institut Pasteur,
Osaka University, AIST as a researcher inneuroscience. In CiNet, he is working asassociate director general.
Ph.D. (Engineering).

NISHITSUTSUMI Yu
Researcher,
Center for Information and Neural
Network (CiNet),
Advanced ICT Research Institute
She joined NICT in 2022. Before coming
to NICT, she worked at University of Tokyo as a project assistant professor. Her
research concerns ethical aspects ofneuroscience. Ph.D. (Philosophy).

10

NICT NEWS 2023 No.1

and Neural Networks (CiNet) has achieved
a diverse range of research outcomes, in all
fields from basic to applied research, which
are helping to link research on human brain
functions to innovative ICT applications.*1
NICT’s Medium-to-Long-term Plan (FY20212025) sets out targets to advance researchthat will lead to the construction of CiNet
Brain (Figure 1), a model that comprises theentire information-processing capabilitiesof the human brain, and also to promoteindustry-academia-government collaboration that will help to boost social acceptance of R&D outcomes, and promote social
implementation.

to a subject in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) machine, collect vast
amounts of information on their brain activity as they watch the video, and construct a
decoding model from that information. We
also construct an encoding model capableof predicting brain activity from the information input into a subject. Using these twomodels, we have created a system capable ofpredicting, to some extent, what the subject
sees and feels in response to audiovisual input information. This technology has alreadybeen used in commercial services, and shows
great promise for future development, which
is why it was featured in the Cabinet Office’s
Public/Private R&D Investment Strategic
Expansion Program (PRISM), which aims toaccelerate social implementation.

■CiNet’s Goal of Open Innovation■ELSI Considerations in PRISM

At CiNet, we have been working actively to promote understanding of our researchoutcomes, not only in the specialist researcher community, but also more broadly withinsociety. In so doing, our aim is to attract theinterest of people in various industries, which
will lead to a diversity of joint research initiatives. We do not limit ourselves to a linear approach that starts with basic research
before moving on to applied and practicalresearch. Rather, by disclosing and sharing
information at various levels, we work to create a structure capable of responding to corporate needs at different stages. This is how
open innovation at CiNet works. Moreover,
our collaborations are not limited to universities and research institutions. Instead, we focus on broad social needs and issues, with theaim of ensuring that our research outcomescan be rapidly implemented in society.
Among our various research initiatives,the development of human perceptual information estimation technology, which combines internal brain information processing
and AI, is one advanced initiative that hasreached the practical application phase. As
shown in Figure 2, we show a video of nature

Under the PRISM Program, various perceptual information estimation models basedon human brain activity information are being created, and work is being advanced inboth the public and private sectors to develop
an environment where it is possible to utilize
brain activity data in a broad range of business scenarios (Figure 3). We are considering the ethical, legal, and social implications(ELSI) of these estimation models, so thatthey can be used with peace of mind by companies, and also by the consumers who aretheir customers. Within PRISM, we have organized a study group and invited not only
experts in this field, but also researchers in
the humanities, as well as representatives ofgovernment and business, to participate in
and deepen discussions. In FY2023, we plan
to compile guidelines for the industrial applications of these estimation models.
At the same time as we started to consider
ELSI under PRISM, we also formed a groupin CiNet to study ELSI in the context of brain
ICT research. This group has started philosophical and ethical investigations not only
about the brain AI models being advanced by

Figure１

Figure 2 onceptual diagram for construction of an encoding modelCfor audiovisual information processing by natural audiovisual
stimuli and reconstruction of input information using a
decoding model

Figure 3

Overview of PRISM Project

CiNet Brain Model of the entire brain

PRISM, but also about research into CiNet
Brain in general, and is promoting research
to make CiNet Brain a comprehensive model. These considerations are, out of necessity,
broad in nature and are being conducted incollaboration with external researchers (inparticular those from the Osaka University
Research Center on ELSI).

■Brain Information Research from a
Philosophical Perspective
Neuroethics*2 is the study of ELSI in
neuroscience. It focuses particularly on the
ethical aspects of ELSI and explores ways toresolve various issues related to what it is thatmakes humans “human,” including personality, identity, agency, authenticity, and autonomy. The various questions that neuroscience is helping to clarify have the potential
to profoundly impact such matters relating tohuman nature.
As noted above, at CiNet, we are implementing a wide variety of research projects
with a view to constructing CiNet Brain.
These projects cover many areas, including
systems neuroscience and brain-machineinterface (BMI) research, and the fusion ofbrain science and ICT. All of these research
fields have various ELSI. From an ethicalstandpoint, the issues with brain measurement by devices such as fMRI and electroencephalography (EEG) relate mainly
to mindreading and privacy, whereas with
BMI, they include human enhancement andmanipulation by others. These issues are directly linked to matters relating to our humannature, such as autonomy and agency, whichleads us to the question, “Is there some sortof fundamental ethical principle that we must
absolutely uphold when working on such issues?”
In fact, there are still no clearly definedbasic ethical principles in neuroethics. For
example, in biomedical ethics, there are the“four principles of biomedical ethics,”*3
which is intended to form the basis for all ethical codes and guidelines in medical care settings and situations where medical researchis carried out on humans. In neuroethics too,
it is likely that we may also be able to identify basic principles that justify various ethicalnorms. Although it would be possible to simply apply the already existing four principles
of biomedical ethics, we ought to consider
the possibility that neuroethics involves issues such as those that relate to the very nature of humanity itself and thus require theirown separate consideration. CiNet has also
begun research on the ethical foundations ofsuch brain science research.

■Future Prospects
Even if the establishment of basic principles could not immediately solve various
existing (or conceivable) ethical issues, they
can be expected to provide rough criteria forthe practical implementation of neuroscience
research and the social implementation of its

outcomes. Work has already begun to compare and combine existing ethical guidelines,
and to organize them theoretically and conceptually. We believe that not only people
involved in research, but also every memberof society should explore what such norms
mean, and work to advance them based on amutual exchange of information and understanding.

Footnote*1 For details, see Journal of NICT, Vol. 68, No. 1, 2022.
*2 The purpose of neuroethics is to resolve various issues
relating to neuroscience, and is comprised of two subfields: “neuroscience of ethics,” and “ethics of neuroscience.”
Neuroethics specialist Dr. Judy Illes takes the approach thatthese sub-fields should be independent of each other, witha third sub-field “interactions of neuroscience and society”
added to the above two sub-fields [1][2].
*3 The four principles of biomedical ethics are: (1) respect
for persons, (2) nonmaleficence, (3) beneficence, and (4)justice. The Belmont Report only describes three principles,as (2) is incorporated into (2) is incorporated into (3) [3][4].

Reference[1] Illes, J. Neuroethics defining the issues in theory, practice,and policy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.
[2] KAGAWAChiaki, “Brainuero science and ethics,” Perspectiveof Brainneuro Ethics,” Keiso Shobo, 2008 (in Japanese).
[3] MARUYAMA Eiji, “Four principle of life ethics and medical
research,” Journal of Japanese Society of Prosthetics andOrthotics, vol.27, no.1, pp58-64 (in Japanese).
[4] National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjectsof Biomedical and Behavioral Research: The Belmont
Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protectionof Human Subjects of Research, OPPR Reports, April 18,
1979.

NICT NEWS 2023 No.1

11

Report on the 12th CiNet Symposium
and Announcement of CiNet Conference 2023

Director of Brain Networks andCommunication Laboratory, CiNet,
Advanced ICT Research Institute

HAGURA Nobuhiro
Senior Researcher, Brain Networks andCommunication Laboratory, CiNet,
Advanced ICT Research InstituteT

he 12th CiNet Symposium took place on November 8 (Tue) at
Knowledge Capital Congrès Convention Center (Osaka) on thetheme of “Brain ICT in virtual spaces.” Featuring presentations and discussion sessions examining issues from various angles, the symposium
looked at the relationship between humans and the ICT environment,
which continues to develop rapidly, including virtual spaces and avatars. More than 300 participants joined the hybrid event, both on-siteand online, demonstrating the depth of interest in this theme in society
and among the research community.
To kick off the symposium, Assistant Professor. NARITA Yusuke of
Yale University gave a keynote lecture titled “Body, mind and soul: A
perspective from an economist.” Professor. Narita stated that out of theEight Consciousnesses of Buddhism, digitalization of the first five consciousnesses, which relate to sensory information, is already advancing, and that in the future, it is likely that even “manas consciousness”
and “ālaya consciousness,” which are deeply related to brain scienceand represent a more spiritual outlook on the world, will also become
digitalized. He also raised the question of what is likely to happen ina highly digitalized society of the future. He explained that money isa one-dimensional means of measuring the value of past and future
human activities, and that in an advanced digitalized society, such an
appraisal may change into something more local and more dynamic
through AI, resulting in money holding less significance. It was a stimulating lecture that raised questions about digital transformation and ahighly decentralized society.
Next, Professor ANDO Hideyuki of Osaka University of Arts,
Dr. SUMIOKA Hidenobu of Advanced Telecommunications ResearchInstitute International (ATR), and Professor INAMURA Tetsunari of the
National Institute of Informatics (NII) gave invited lectures about theirresearch into how avatar and virtual reality technologies can influence
human behavior and emotions. All three researchers have their own

different approaches and it was impressive to see how the virtual world
has already become a part of everyday human life.
Next, four CiNet researchers introduced their research on virtual
spaces and brain ICT. Dr. HIRASHIMA Masaya (Senior Researcher) spoke
about his work on mobility support systems using virtual space and avatars, and Dr. TANAKA Toshiko (Researcher) spoke about how using anavatar changes people’s social behavior and brain activity.
To close the symposium, Mr. KAWAMOTO Kenta of SONY AI gave akeynote lecture titled, “Deep reinforcement learning outperforms top
Gran Turismo drivers.” It was fascinating to hear that the level of driving
achieved through the deep reinforcement learning algorithms not only
outperforms top professional drivers, but also realizes the fairness thatthe competitive sporting world implicitly demands. This also suggests a
direction that human-centric brain ICT research could take in the future.
Overall, the symposium gave the strong
impression that virtual spaces and virtual
reality technologies
are already starting
to change human lifeand society, and that
Figure 1 Keynote lecture by Assistant Professor .
they are become a
NARITA Yusuke, Yale University
main theme for brain
ICT research, alongside AI and BMI. We
would like to express
our appreciation to all
the departments involved in making the
symposium a success.
Figure 2Keynote lecture by Mr. KAWAMOTO
Kenta, Sony AI Inc.

CiNet Conference 2023

The 8th CiNet Conference is scheduled to be held from March 7 to 9, 2023, under the title of “Beyond Motor Control: Bridging the
gap between action and perception.” The theme to be explored in the conference this time is the boundary region of brain information processing relating to “cognition and sociality” and “motor control.”The conference will bring together up-and-coming young researchers from various countries and host discussions on the differences and interactions among various fields, with the aim of contributing to the development of research on the fusion of informationand neural networks at NICT and enhance its international presence. We look forward to welcoming on-site and online participants.
For further details, see the link below.
▼Information about the CiNet Conference

https://cinet.jp/english/

12

NICT NEWS 2023 No.1

File 23HARUNO Masahiko

Elucidating How the Brain Represents Temporal
Information and Developing Technologies to Manipulate
the Subjective Experience of Time
Q&As

● Biography

HAYASHIMasamichi
Researcher (tenure-track),
Brain Networks andCommunication Laboratory,
Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet),
Advanced ICT
Research Institute,
Ph. D. （Science）.

J

1982 Born in Osaka Prefecture
2006	Graduated from University ofFukui
2011	After receiving a doctorate〜
from Graduate University for2019 Advanced Studies, engaged inresearch relating to perception oftime and numbers at University
College London, University of
Helsinki, University of Sussex,
University of California, andOsaka University.
2019 Joined NICT
2021 Appointed to current position● Awards, etc.
2018	Young Investigator Award, 2ndJapanese Meeting for Human
Brain Imaging
2015	Best Presentation Award forYoung Scientists, Comprehensive
Brain Science Network

ust as we often hear words and phrases such as “time flies” or “good timing,”
time is ever-present and intrinsically interwoven into our daily lives. It is believed
that, in order to adapt our actions to a
dynamically changing environment, weconsciously or unconsciously estimate andlearn the timing and duration of various
events, putting such information to use topredict what may happen in the future.
However, despite it being incredibly important to accurately recognize the passage of time, our perceptions of time canvery easily be distorted, depending on suchfactors as our environment, degree of alertness, or emotional state. As the situation
currently stands, all we can do is to surrender ourselves to these perceived ups anddowns in the flow of time. If we could understand the mechanisms in our brains thatgovern perceptions of time, and control
these perceptions freely, I believe it would
unlock the potential to transform our lives
in the future.
In my research to date, I have identified theareas of the brain that are thought to rep-

Q What is good things to be a researcher?

A Being the first to discover things that no-one else knew

before, being able to leave living proof in the form of
written papers for future generations and being able tostudy overseas and participate in academic meetings
around the world.

Q What are you currently interested in outside of yourresearch?

A Watching overseas TV dramas. Recently, I have been
watching s.w.a.t, NCIS, Hawaii Five-O and Chicago Fire,learning about the meaning of teamwork and leadership!

Q What advice would you like to pass on to people aspiring
to be a researchers?

A My hope is for students to enjoy the process of taking time
to explore ideas fully and pursue the truth, without being
overly preoccupied with getting immediate results or
fearing failure.

resent temporal information, and clarified
how those regions are related to both theability to estimate time and biases in our
perceptions of time. We are currently working to further deepen our understandingof the brain’s time perception mechanisms
and seeking to manipulate time perceptions artificially. Specifically, this involves
such methods as transcranial magnetic
stimulation, which enables modulation ofneural activities for a short period of time
non-invasively, and tactile stimulation
through wearable devices. Using thesemethods, we are looking into ways in which
it may be possible to control subjective
perceptions of the flow of time. If we could
successfully manipulate perceptions oftime through our research, I believe it could
have various technology applications, suchas the development of an artificial brain
model that mimics temporal information
processing mechanisms, or the promotionof learning complex motor skills throughmanipulation of human time perceptions,as well as improved ability to recognize
signs when driving.

Figurerain stimulation via transcranial magneticBstimulation (TMS)
TMS can induce a transient, small electricalcurrent in the brain by producing a rapidchange in the electromagnetic field via a coilplaced on the scalp. This photo shows anexample of experiments that can manipulate
the functional connectivity between two
brain regions using two TMS coils.

NICT NEWS 2023 No.1

13

NICT NEWS 2023 No.1 Vol.497

Published by Public Relations Department, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
Issue date: Jan. 2023 (bimonthly)

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