Chronogenesis: how the mind generates time

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Chronogenesis: how the mind generates time
• Project/Area Number: 18H05520
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Complex systems
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Kitazawa Shigeru 大阪大学, 大学院生命機能研究科, 教授 (00251231)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 酒井 裕 玉川大学, 脳科学研究所, 教授 (70323376)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-06-29 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 時間生成学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We live distinguishing between the past, present, and future. This consciousness of time, particularly developed in humans and referred to as 'mind's time,' arises from where and how? This research project has built upon and expanded the previous one, 'the Science of Mental Time,' achieving the following five results: 1. Constructed artificial neural circuits that exhibit the functions of 'mind's time.' 2. Clarified the functions and causes of various 'time maps.' 3. Explored and reported on the relationship between everyday introspection and neural activity, including why periods of boredom are painful. 4. Developed new methods to manipulate 'mind's time.' 5. Elucidated the similarities and differences between humans and other animals, and between adults and children, in their perception of time.

Free Research Field

認知神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

上述の5つの成果、それぞれについて意義を述べる。1.Transformerの日本語化は自然言語処理の分野にも大きなインパクトを与えた。また、人工神経回路を脳機能研究に応用したという点で、ヒト高次脳機能研究全般に波及する成果となった。２．時間長の知覚地図の研究はNature誌を初め広く報道された。３．社会の誰もが共感できる成果となった。啓蒙書を多数出版し、またテレビ番組を通じて解説した。４．時間計測のトレーニングが時間認知障害の改善につながる可能性を示した研究は社会的インパクトが大きい。５．「時間」という抽象的な概念がどのように発生・発達するかを解明した点で学術的に大きな意義を持つ。