Neural basis of inner thought dynamics and enhancement of daily thinking processes

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26330171
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cognitive science
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Nozawa Takayuki 東北大学, 加齢医学研究所, 助教 (60370110)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): IKEDA Shigeyuki 東北大学, 加齢医学研究所, 助教 (30754353)
• Research Collaborator: SASAKI YUKAKO ; SASAKI YUKAKO
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 脳・神経 / 思考 / 注意 / 情動 / 揺らぎダイナミクス / fMRI / fNIRS / コミュニケーション

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This project aimed to clarify the neural mechanisms of dynamic inner thoughts fluctuating in multiple dimensions, such as attention focus, emotional valence, and diversity. Furthermore, the project also aimed to extend the obtained results to our daily thinking activities, and to establish methodological bases for evaluating and facilitating individual and group thinking processes. The succession of studies pursuing this purpose achieved the following results: (1) we identified neural dynamics reflecting concentration to and contents of inner thoughts; (2) we identified neural dynamics predicting switches or continuation of positive/negative thoughts; (3) we discovered spatiotemporally heterogeneous contribution of functional connectivity dynamics to the diversity of thoughts; (4) we established potential usefulness of fNIRS hyperscanning and interpersonal neural synchronization in qualitatively evaluating real-life communications.

Free Research Field

認知神経科学，応用脳科学