Control and Transcendence of Limits through Implicit Cognitive Processes

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Understanding and breaking the limit of human minds and performance
• Project/Area Number: 20H05715
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Transformative Research Areas, Section (I)
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Shibata Kazuhisa 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 脳神経科学研究センター, チームリーダー (20505979)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-10-02 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 限界突破 / 脳 / 潜在過程 / 知覚 / 運動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the limits of human performance are controlled by implicit cognitive processes in the brain and to develop methods for transcending those limits. To achieve this objective, we conducted well-designed behavioral experiments, brain imaging experiments, and brain stimulation experiments. Throughout the research period, we faced challenges such as restrictions on global research activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic and delays of one and a half years or more in the entry of foreign researchers due to immigration restrictions. However, significant research outcomes have been achieved so far, including the discovery of several methods for transcending limits utilizing technology and psychological insights, such as improving reaction time through skin electrical stimulation and enhancing sustained grip strength through distraction techniques.

Free Research Field

認知神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

火事場の馬鹿力はなぜ起こるのだろうか？危険時に一瞬で筋肉が強くなることはない。また平常時はいくら頑張っても出せない力が出せるのだから、火事場の馬鹿力は脳の情報処理、特に潜在過程によって制御されていると考えることができる。この制御を騙す方法の発見、この制御に関わる脳部位の解明や、その脳部位を操作する技術の開発は、学術的に価値が高いだけでなく、新しい訓練法等の創出にも繋がる。また慢性疲労症候群に代表されるように、潜在過程が制御する限界が極端に低くなってしまった患者の状態を改善させるための、新たな医療技術のシーズになる可能性もある。