Understanding human nature based on non-linear neuronal oscillation

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Non-linear Neuro-oscillology: Towards Integrative Understanding of Human Nature
• Project/Area Number: 15K21731
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Complex systems
• Research Institution: National Institute for Physiological Sciences
• Principal Investigator: Nambu Atsushi 生理学研究所, システム脳科学研究領域, 教授 (80180553)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 美馬 達哉 立命館大学, 先端総合学術研究科, 教授 (20324618)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-11-06 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 脳・神経 / ソフトコンピューティング / 複雑系数理 / 脳神経疾患 / 生理学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

“Oscillology” aims to understand the functions and dysfunctions of the brain based on spontaneous nonlinear oscillation and synchronization in the neural system. The brain, including our human brain, is filled with a variety of oscillatory activity. This knowledge will also help us to understand our human nature. This group is composed of researchers on neuroscience, computational neuroscience, and clinical neuroscience, and uses the following three strategies to study oscillology: (1) Exploring and finding oscillatory phenomena; (2) Elucidating the mechanism of oscillation by mathematical models; and (3) Regulating oscillatory activity. To accomplish these objects, we promoted international exchange programs, such as inviting foreign researchers (long term and short terms) and sending Japanese researchers to forging institutes or universities (long term and short terms).

Free Research Field

神経生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

脳が発振現象に満ちていることは周知の事実であるが、本領域により、非線形発振現象から神経活動を見直してみようという機運が新たに高まったと思う。また、精神、神経疾患の病態も神経情報の異常な流れから解釈しようというネットワーク病という考えも、根付いてきたように思う。とくに国際交流において、てんかんの病態メカニズムの詳細が明らかにされたこと、静磁場などによるヒト脳活動への介入の可能性が示されたこと、ウイルスベクターを用いたパーキンソン病などの研究が進展したなど、実際の臨床応用が期待できる。