12 Course Catalog
Subject

Advanced Systems
Neuroscience

CreditAbout the course

2Higher-order brain functions such as sensory perception, behavioral actions,emotion, decision-making and thinking are mediated by nerve cells in the brain,
more than 10 billion of which exist in the cerebral cortex alone, making local
and global, hierarchical networks, and representing and processing neuronal
information under specialized working principles. In Advanced System
Neuroscience, graduate students are expected to master the coding of nerve
signals, detection and perception of sensory stimuli, control of actions andmotor learning, emotion and decision-making. Classes will consist of lectures,workshops and discussions in a small group of students and professors.

1To understand the mechanism of the neural system, researchers need to obtain
precise and reliable experimental data by an appropriate combination ofseveral experimental techniques. In this lecture, students will learn the basics
and applications of anatomical and physiological techniques widely used inneuroscience, such as tracer injections, microscopy, electroencephalograms, andextracellular and intracellular recordings. The students will learn how to selectexperimental techniques and how to analyze their experiment data inaccordance with the purpose of their own studies.

2In this course, we review theoretical and computational neuroscience, which isan approach for understanding brain functions through mathematicalformulation. Participants learn how to analyze and hypothesize through a
computational point of view on their own project. The approaches ofcomputational neuroscience try to understand brain functions by analyzing
multiple levels of neuroscientific phenomena on molecular, cell, network andsystem levels. The goal of this course is to study mathematical and statisticalconcepts bridging multiple levels of neural and behavioral data, such as neural
encoding and decoding, information theory, and Bayesian statistics.

1

Computer simulation is an effective method to confirm what phenomena
emerge from a hypothesized model. For instance, we can easily examine theeffect of a certain cause by using a simulation of a biologically detailed model.
This also allows us to understand the background mechanisms of an observed
phenomenon by looking for the smallest model required in order to reproducethat phenomenon. This lecture provides concrete examples to study therequired basic techniques in regards to the 2 contrary courses of action ofpursuing biological fidelity on one side and of simplification in order to findmechanisms on the other.

2

The goals of this class are to master the theory of human non-invasive
measurement of brain activity, functional magnetic resonance imaging（fMRI），
and to cultivate the skills for experimental designs and analyses for fMRI.
In the first half, students will learn about possible dangers, ethical issues forparticipants, and imaging mechanisms in MRI experiments. Also, students will
gain understanding on RF pulse sequences and the meanings of the MR images.
Furthermore, students will learn how to control interface devices, such as
stimulus presentation systems, recording systems for biological reaction etc.,
which are necessary for fMRI experiments.
In the latter half, students will study from basic analyses to applied ones for
fMRI data. Then, in order to understand the detailed research methods of fMRI
correctly, students will gain the knowledge required for task design withconsideration of the characteristics of fMRI. Furthermore, students will actually
try to make task designs along some given themes and have discussions inorder to make up their skills for their own fMRI research.

1

The aim of this course is to learn about procedures for fMRI studies. The
student will be shown how to perform fMRI tasks and how to calculate fMRI
data. The student will also experience 3 tesla MRI operation.

システム神経科学論

Systems Neuroscience
Techniqueシステム神経科学技法

Computational
Neuroscience
計算論的神経科学

Computer Simulation
Technique
コンピュータシミュレーション技法

Brain Image Analysis脳画像解析学

Neuroimaging
Techniqueニューロイメージング技法

1402016 大学院要覧

Developmental Science
発達科学

About the course

2This course is intended for students to seek the essence of human behavioral
changes with a focus on cognitive psychology, developmental psychology andlinguistics, in order to deepen their understanding. In particular, students willlearn about the latest research on scientific approaches to understanding avariety of findings in the developmental process of infants. The first half of thecourse will focus on explaining the concept of development in science（HiroyukiOkada）．We will also touch upon the modeling of learning mechanisms
through a connectionist approach, which has become a hot topic in recentyears. In the latter half, we will reveal various experimental aspects of its
development, by concentrating on language acquisition in infants（MutsumiImai）．

1

This course provides opportunities to learn and experience various researchmethods of developmental sciences so that students can apply suggestions
from brain research to education, connecting information from linguistics,
cognitive psychology, and developmental psychology. Students will experience
data collection and analysis of questionnaires, surveys, behavioral observations,and behavioral experiments. Especially in behavioral observations, we will
discuss the correlation between mother-child/child-child social interaction andfirst/second language acquisition. Students will also learn manipulations andacoustic analyses of sounds, which are used in studies of speech perception andproduction. By comparing these multiple research methods, we will discussappropriate usage of these methods.

2

In the case of communication between human subjects, one tries to estimate
what the other party intends to do in order to establish optimal mutualinteractions, because the other party is a human being with his/her own will.
Lectures in Communication Robot Engineering cover theoretical models
required for constructing robots that can interact with humans, for thedevelopment of cognitive functions and for algorithms for control systems.
While studying the literature, graduate students introduce and discuss thelatest researches, which will be provided by the professors, to learn about thebackgrounds and perspectives of researches in the field of communication
robot engineering, and about how to read the literature.

2In the information processing of the brain, any information-integration isrelated to “learning and memory.” Therefore, in order to understand high orderfunctions, it is very important to study learning and memory systems. In thislecture, learning and memory systems from the synapse level of a single
neuron to the network level of neurons are explained. The mechanism anddynamics of learning and memory are introduced from both the experimentalside and the theoretic side. In addition, the relation between information
representation and the memory function in the brain will be touched upon.
Furthermore, the latest knowledge about learning and memory will bepresented.

2To understand information processing in the brain, it is necessary to analyze
functional spike activities of many neurons which are simultaneously measured
through a multi-neuronal recording technique. In this lecture, students willlearn the basics and applications of this multi-neuronal recording technique,focusing in particular on classical and up-to-date researches on the mechanismof spatial cognition and memory by hippocampal neurons in rats. The students
will also have a simulated experience to review an original paper as a reviewer
with scientific insight and criticism.

2016 大学院要覧

141

発達科学技法Communication RobotEngineering
コミュニケーションロボット工学

脳型学習システム

Parallel InformationProcessing
パラレル情報処理解析学

脳科学研究科

Brain-type Learning
Systems

Ⅱ 教育課程表および講義内容

Developmental ScienceTechnique

Credit脳科学専攻（博士課程後期）

SubjectSubject

Advanced Brain
Sciences A（Robotics）

CreditAbout the course

1

Robotics consists of various fields of technology, such as mechanics, electricity,electrons and information. It is thought that intelligence technology is ofimportance for this fusion. In this course, students will study the latest
research on the forms of technology that are classified for intelligent robots. In
particular, topics such as autonomous mobile robot, image recognition, and selfposition identification are studied. This seminar is partly conducted in theBrain Science Retreat.

1

The purpose of this course is to learn about cutting edge studies incomputational neuroscience, theoretical and practical approaches forneuroscience by using computational models, and about methods of analysis
with computational hypothesis in the students’ own research fields. In thiscourse, we conduct a series of seminars by invited speakers who are globallyactive in computational neuroscience and related fields. Participants will not
only study advanced ideas and approaches of these fields but will also learn
computational and quantitative analysis methods for their own research
projects. This seminar is partly conducted in the Brain Science Retreat.

2

The origin of human intellectual activity is the brain, but, depending on theactions, it is possible to observe activities to create wisdom. The understandingof intelligent behavior as information processing leads to a deeper
understanding of knowledge. In this lecture, we discuss the concepts ofcognitive science, methodology, and research trends.

2Animals with developed brains have inference abilities with which they canestimate relationships between events without direct experience. Theseabilities enable human beings, who have the most advanced inference abilities,
to create new things and events. To understand the basic mechanisms ofcreative brain functions, we will study（ 1 ）psychological theories in learningand thinking and（ 2 ）theories in neural computation. At the end of thecourse, we will discuss the results of recent studies on inference, thinking andcreativity.

2Findings in the brain sciences have recently had significant impacts on various
fields in the social sciences, providing impetus for collaborative efforts between
brain scientists and social scientists. The goal of this course is to delineate thescope of the potential implications that findings in brain science could have on
research and theory building in social sciences̶beyond the fields ofneuroeconomics and behavior economics̶from the perspectives of the socialscientists.

1

In this seminar, researches of information creation（i.e. thinking, decision
making and creativity）are presented in the fields of experimental psychology,
neuroscience, and computational neuroscience. The mechanisms of humancreativity are main theme based on the evidence of neuroscience in animal andhuman experiments. This seminar is given mostly in English. The students arerequired to have the ability to discuss in English. This seminar is partly
conducted in the Brain Science Retreat.

1Findings in the brain sciences have recently had significant impacts on various
fields in the social sciences, providing impetus for collaborative efforts between
brain scientists and social scientists. In this course, we conduct a series ofseminars by invited speakers who are globally active in social sciences andrelated fields. This seminar is partly conducted in the Brain Science Retreat.

2

Scientific development relies on trueness, trust and fairness of research
practice. Scientific misconduct -violation of these norms- hampers the sounddevelopment of science. We discuss scientific misconduct and questionable
research practice through case study and cultivate research ethics as practicalwisdom.

脳情報先端セミナーＡ（ロボット工学）

Advanced Brain
Sciences B（Neural Computation）
脳情報先端セミナーＢ（神経計算論）

Cognitive Psychology
認知心理学

Information Creation
Science
情報創成科学The Impact of Brain
Science on SocialSciences
社会科学から見た脳科学

Advanced Brain
Sciences C（Information Creation）
脳情報先端セミナーＣ（情報創成）

Advanced Brain
Sciences D（Social Sciences）
脳科学先端セミナー D（社会科学）

Scientific ResearchEthics
研究者倫理論1422016 大学院要覧

SubjectPsychophysics
心理物理学

神経経済学

Social System Control
社会システム制御論

Neural KANSEIEngineering

2

Neuroeconomis is a new academic field that suddenly arose at the end of the20th century. Neuroeconomics is based on behavioral economics, systems
neuroscience for decision-making, and human functional neuroimaging. In theneuroeconomics course, students will learn the basic methods forneuroeconomics and its findings. Students will also study the findings ofneuromarketing, which is a current extension of neuroeconomics. We willassess how valid neuromarketing is for our society at present and in thefuture. Furthermore, we will try to identify the essence and search the future
perspective of neuroeconomics by considering different aspects of this newresearch field.

2It is important to understand the individual players that constitute a society inorder to control the social system. However, a society is not a simple collectionof individuals. Without a perspective to understand mutual communications
among society members, it would be difficult to decide and implement social
policies and plans. For better institutional design, it is necessary to understandthe mechanisms of cognition and emotion in social decision-making and theirneural substrates. This course will be delivered in the form of lectures,workshops, and group discussion.

2

This course discusses the information processing of music from the perspectiveof cognitive science. The student studies the structure, knowledge
representation, and cognition of music in reference to recent music-theoreticalresearch. In doing so, the student gains an insight into the formation of variouscategories of musical entities, the identification and designation of thecategories, and the relationships between category formation and ourunderstanding of music. Finally, as possible topics of final projects, we will
discuss the computer modeling of composition and performance of music, andits theories and implementations.

2

Neuroethics recently emerged through the interaction between life-ethics andsystem-neuroscience and consequently has two aspects. One is “the ethics ofneuroscience,” which criticizes studies of neuroscience from the view point ofethics and morals. The other is “the neuroscience of ethics,” which investigates
the neural mechanisms of ethical decision-making. In this course, we will read
papers related to both aspects of neuroethics and we will consider how
neuroscientific studies on ethics and moral influence our lives and society.

2The aim of this course is to learn about symptoms of psychiatric disorder, suchas schizophrenia, depression, autistic disorder, and neurological disorder. A
further aim is to investigate appropriate methods to identify neuronal bases ofpsychiatric and behavioral symptoms using neuroimaging techniques.

2

Modern neuroscience is on the verge of uncovering the mechanisms of thedevelopment of neurons and glial cells in the central nervous system, and also
those of memory and learning at the molecular level.
The final goal of this class is for the student to be able to acquire basic
knowledge of molecular biology and the ability to apply this basic knowledge
to neuroscientific research.
The class is composed of two parts: the first part is focused on basic molecularbiology; the second part provides information on processing mechanisms andtheir regulation in the nervous system. There will be an emphasis on studies ofmolecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission and signal transduction.
Furthermore, the relationship between new genetic engineering techniques.
including the technique of recombining DNA, and animal behavior arediscussed.

神経感性工学

Neuroethics
神経倫理学

PathologicalNeuroscience
病態神経科学

Advanced MolecularLife Science
分子生命科学論2016 大学院要覧

脳科学専攻（博士課程後期）2

In system-neuroscience, well-controlled stimulus presentation and accurate
measurement of behavior are indispensable. Experimental psychology has
developed psychophysical methods to analyze the relationship between
stimulus and response. In this course, we will systematically study
psychophysical methods and related psychological theories, as well as discuss
recent psychological studies. We will also talk on how we can apply
psychophysical techniques to neuroscience research.

脳科学研究科

About the course

Ⅱ 教育課程表および講義内容

Neuroeconomics

Credit143

SubjectBrain Sciences
Research Method Ⅰ（Research Survey）

CreditAbout the course

2

The goal of doctorate course research is to aim at a truly original study byseeking novel findings, innovative technique, or sophisticated theories in aspecific field of brain science. To achieve this, students have to have broad
knowledge of past and current researches, available and effective techniques,
and most importantly, future directions of the field. In this class, students willobtain sufficient knowledge to design their own studies appropriately, bysearching, reading, and understanding valuable literature in brain science.

2

Scientific research is a methodology, which provides new experiences fromwhich new knowledge is also deduced, by conducting well-organizedexperiments, analyzing their results and inspecting these results carefully.
In order to clarify the differences between newly obtained knowledge andconventional knowledge, it is necessary to design a well-organized plan and tocarry out experiments according to this plan for the achievement of one’s own
purposes.
This class provides methodology that allows students to establish their own
projects by themselves through discussion with instructors.
It is required to complete the “Brain Sciences MethodⅠ（Research Survey）”
course to take this course.

2

Natural phenomena generally look stochastic unless all of the causes arecontrolled. There are uncontrollable internal states in the brain. Therefore, astochastic view is inevitable to understand the brain through experimental
data. Methods to infer objective conclusions from finite observations arerequired to understand stochastic phenomena. In this class, we discuss
statistical methods to infer an objective conclusion from specific experimental
data obtained by proper experiments in brain science and discuss approaches
to construct testable hypotheses. It is required to complete the two courses:“Brain Sciences Research Method Ⅰ（Research Survey）” and “Brain Sciences
Research Method Ⅱ（Research Planning）” to take this course.

2The goal of scientific study is to write an original paper, in which theexperimental procedures and results have to be described clearly in order forthe readers to realize its originality and usefulness. Without basic techniques ofscientific writing, it is hard to show the scientific validity and originality in one’s paper. In this class, the supervisor provides an individual with training on
how to write scientific papers. Students are required to have completed thecourses “Brain Sciences Research Methods Ⅰ ” （Research Survey），“ Ⅱ（Research Planning）” and “Ⅲ（Data Analysis）” to take this course.

2This is a seminar for writing a doctoral thesis as a compilation of all
professional skills, knowledge, and research findings the student has gathered,after mastering research surveys, research planning, data analysis. This is a
literacy to advance scientific research and develop new technology. Students
will also join in discussions of other students’ research, and learn how to utilize
what they learned from the discussions to their own researches. Before taking
Brain Sciences Research Method Seminar, Students are required to havefinished Brain Sciences Research MethodⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ.

脳科学研究法Ⅰ（研究サーベイ）

Brain Sciences
Research Method Ⅱ（Research Planning）
脳科学研究法Ⅱ（研究計画）

Brain Sciences
Research Method Ⅲ（Data Analysis）

脳科学研究法Ⅲ（データ解析）

Brain Sciences
Research Method Ⅳ（Thesis Writing）

脳科学研究法Ⅳ（論文作成）

Brain Sciences
Research Method
Seminar
脳科学研究法セミナー

144

2016 大学院要覧