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In this project, the brain research will be deployed on the basis of an
entirely new concept by regarding the brain as an "inverse problem"
solving device.
For instance, let us think of playing catch. When you throw a ball, your brain sends out a motor command for throwing, the motor nerves transmit impulses, the muscles contract and the joints are bent and extended to launch a ball. Then, the brain is required to construct the motor command so that the ball exactly hits the target or the catcher's mitt. This is done by solving an inverse problem on the basis of calculation of ball trajectory with consideration to the spatial relation between you and the target, the effects of gravity, and the characteristics of the joints and muscles.
Since most of the information is usually lost when the problem is fed into the brain, the brain is forced to solve the "direct (forward) problem" in reverse based on insufficient information. If the brain is regarded as an "inverse (backward) problem" solving device, a clue for a scientific clarification of not only sensory and motor functions but also higher brain functions such as thought and emotion should become available. In this project, we will attempt to define the basic principle of the information processing in the brain, which is an "inverse problem" solver to solve inverse problems autonomously in coordination with the "direct problem".
In the feasibility study on "Organic Superlattice", which lasted
three years from fiscal 1993 to 95, thin films of organic compound have
been prepared for the purpose of collecting and analyzing basic parameters
for constructing molecular thin film or superlattice under the structural
control with the organic molecular beam deposition (OMBD). This technique
has been broadly used, and the vapor pressure of some sublimate compounds
among enormous number of organic molecules is accurately known, while the
evaporation rate has been rarely determined. Generally speaking, organic
compounds which are solid at the normal temperature and pressure and can
be evaporated by heating under the vacuum of 10-5 to 10-8 Torr have been
used for OMBD. However, the most essential basic parameters for OMBD is
evaporation rate in relation to substrate temperature. The quantitative
analysis and control of film growth can be implemented only if the number
of molecules reaching the substrate surface in unit time is accurately controlled.
Attempts have been also made to quantify the nucleation frequency on depositing
a specified number of molecules on the substrate surface, the range of molecular
diffusion on the surface, and the film growth process of some functional
organic molecules on the basis of structural observation by the atomic force
microscopy (AFM) of epitaxial growth of organic molecules on the surface
of inorganic crystal and the in situ measurement of growth with total reflection
X-ray diffraction. Finally, the molecular layout of high quality molecular
crystalline film has been imaged by the scanning tunneling microscopy (STM)
and the transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
The superb function of information processing in the brain is based on the
full utilization of peculiar characteristics of biological system, such
as self-organization, plasticity, coordination and complementing capability,
as exemplified by the construction of necessary neural circuits, or functional
connection of neurons, in the self-organizing manner, and the flexible modification
of circuit in the input-dependent manner. In order to find a breakthrough
in the brain research, it is urgently needed to develop innovative tools
for collecting information on the brain activities, which has not been available
up to now. This attempt, if successful, would make it possible to create
new research paradigm.
In this project, it is sought for to establish a technique for continuously record the neural activities of the cerebral cortex by the optical means using membrane potential-sensitive dye. It is expected that this technique will clarify the nature of motor programming in the brain and the mechanism of adaptive revision, through the comparative analysis of dynamics of changes in the motor-related areas of the cerebral cortex before and after learning a locomotive task.
The objective is to review the supporting technology for the human communications
from the fundamental concept and to reconstruct it on the basis of cognitive
science. That is, aiming at the establishment of support for remote human
communications based on computers and networks, efforts will be made for
qualitatively identifying and quantitatively assessing factors in human-to-human
communications, and for developing the human communications supporting technology
and its utilization, on the basis of characteristics of human communications.
For implementing this project, it seems essential to exploit the practical methodology and to construct "research circle" inviting collaboration by many scientists. An experimental communication channels has been built up within the research group, and the system has been run in practical mode, while accepting feedback information. We have joined the multi media project of NTT and constructed an advanced human communications supporting system based on ATM. The "research circle" has been expanded to Keio University and Niigata International and Information University.
The Nature is filled with various rhythms. However, chemical link has not
yet been identified between the materials rhythms and the biological rhythms.
Rhythm of both categories is a dynamic function of time, involving time
series consisting of generation, stabilization and extinction. It is by
no means monotone repetition, but has clock functions just like a pendulum
mechanism or a sand glass.
The project is dedicated to the elucidation of the nature of rhythm & clock function through the studies on its molecular basis and mathematical analysis, by the collaboration of scientists of different backgrounds who intend to describe the rhythm & clock in the biological world in terms of chemistry and who insist that biological rhythm & clock is constructed from materials and chemical one. The rhythm phenomena have been studied at various levels: not only chemical reactions, but also cardiomuscular cells, neurons, whole individuals and yeast cells.
In the present Feasibility Study, the target is placed at the biological rhythm in assembly of yeast cells, as an example of interdisciplinary research, striving for acquisition of analytic data, and application of analysis in BZ reaction and phase dynamics.
$B!!(JIt has been demonstrated through the theoretical calculation and the
kinetic analysis with synthesized ribozyme, that RNA components of ribozyme
is simply providing a framework to hold metal ion (Mg2+-cofactor) and that
the actual reaction is catalyzed by metal ion. That is to say, ribozyme
is a metal-based enzyme. Besides, the technology for suppressing the duplication
of AIDS virus (HIV) using shotgun type ribozyme manifestation vector which
can cope with multiple variations of HIV.
This project is to seek effective instrumental and statistical analytic
means, microscopically and macroscopically, for identifying causes for physical
and chemical phenomena in the precursory process of solid fracture. The
relation to the macroscopic phenomena has also been studied in connection
to the prediction of earthquake. Five groups from three AIST institutes,
Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, Geological Survey of Japan and Chugoku
National Industrial Research Institute have joined this interdisciplinary
project.
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