The Hakubi Project

In our daily life, we can see, hear, experience, and learn very many things. Repeating the above process, knowing something with excitement, wouldn’t many people connect such experiences to the next new discovery? I am also the one that has been attracted to the kind of "know-" joy. Then, how has "we know", in itself, been established, on earth, in the head? To this tremendous riddle, the modern neuroscience does continue to challenge. I have been studying the mechanism for changing the way of information transmission of the nerve cells (, neurons,) in the brain so far. The “synapse” is the binding site of neurons together. And, at synapses, the strength to transmit can change. Such the transmission change phenomenon is called "synaptic plasticity", which has been believed that basic processes of learning and memory for decades. However, in recent years, even in a non-synaptic structure, called the dendrites, it has become evident to change the response (Ohtsuki et al., 2012a, Neuron).
In addition, with respect to perception, I will talk about the “orientation selectivity” of the primary visual cortex. Neurons in the visual cortex specifically respond to an inclined bar and light. In recent years, nerve cell populations derived from the same neural stem cells (clonally-related cell group), was found to be responsive to the slope that is similar (Ohtsuki et al., 2012b, Neuron). Further, I will talk for a point that, in the young animal's brain, clonally-related cells likely to react to a horizontal direction of the light-bars, as well. Neurobiology has been intermingled by a variety of academic area, including physiology, molecular biology, physics (electrical and optical), mathematical information, genetics, and so on. This seminar, however, would not be too complicated. It will start from the introduction of the familiar visual perception, trying to entertain audience. I would like to endeavor to let you understand what are going on in the head.

Before this seminar, Enoto-san (Hakubi 6th batch) will give a brief talk on his recent activities including studying abroad and Crowdfunding.