The brain and nervous system, along with the human genome, are major themes of current life science research and development. These are attracting interest not simply because they are on the frontier of research but because the mechanisms involved are deeply related to the nature of human activity, society, and economy. Of course it is the genome that decides the forms of living organisms, but the neurological workings are what give the resulting beings their individuality. The genome and the brain and nervous system are in a cross-antagonistic relationship (see Fig. 1); human society is formed taking advantage of both. Research and development activities at AIST are being carried out in order to gain a good understanding of their characteristics and to develop technologies for applying them to everyday life.

The life science research field at AIST is pursuing research aimed at achieving the strategic targets (Fig. 2) set for fiscal 2008. The research and development introduced here on "Technologies for Measuring and Interfacing the Brain and Nervous System and their Application to Industry" deals mainly with the third strategic target, "technology for measuring and assessing human functions."

The brain is made up of neural circuits having nerve cells (neurons) as their elements. Understanding how these circuits function is one of today's most important scientific challenges. At AIST we are taking up this challenge directly, as we actively conduct research into monitoring brain states by measuring brain activity. If we succeed in understanding brain states, we should be able to measure and determine what an individual is thinking and feeling at a given time.

If we can measure human brain activity simply and noninvasively, we will be able to know brain states readily. This kind of measurement is made possible using light topography and brainwave monitors. One method for higher-precision measurement of brain activity over time and space is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The brain is an organ that receives stimulation from the outside (environment), decides a reaction to the stimulation, and issues motor commands. A developed brain can respond to external stimulation not uniformly but with individuality. Recent research using fMRI has been able to measure brain responses when experiencing or becoming aware of something for the first time.

By making use of such methods, we have been able to learn much about what goes on inside the brain, but have not yet reached the point of being able to measure in detail the workings of neural circuits as they exchange electrical signals. The use of nerve electrodes is a key technology here. They allow us to take detailed measurements of electrical changes in various parts of the brain. By using nerve electrodes to measure brain activity in animals, we have been able to learn the process by which the decision to act is formed. Further, by analyzing activity in brain areas related to visual information, we can now determine accurately what the subject is viewing. Techniques like these can be applied to developing interfaces between brain consciousness and external machines (BMI, brain-machine interfaces).

Because of the brain's complex structure, even with nerve electrodes it is very difficult to analyze in detail the principles by which neural circuits operate. Research is thus being carried out in which artificially cultured nerve cells are induced to form circuits autonomously and the nature of those circuits is analyzed. We have discovered the existence of periodic electrical activity in such a circuit even without external stimulus, and have learned the kind of network structure it forms, called a small world. By connecting not a brain but this artificial neural circuit to a robot, we have shown the possibility that a form of learning takes place.

Various applications come to mind once it becomes possible to measure the brain and nervous system in this way. By connecting brain signals to an external instrument such as an artificial hand, it should be possible to restore lost motor functions or enable the indication of intentions. Another possibility is to stimulate the brain with nerve electrodes for quicker rehabilitation. Further, being able to understand the brain's "feelings" will enable psychological measurements in various situations, which would be useful for developing products matched to the rich emotions and complex consciousness of human beings. If the principles of brain functioning can be understood with a bit more precision, the creation of new information processing technology may be more than just a dream.

These applications cannot be accomplished by the technology fields introduced here alone but will require cooperation across a wide range of disciplines, including biotechnology, electronic engineering, mathematics, information engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, and medicine. At AIST, besides bringing together experts from these fields in our laboratories, we are forming cooperative arrangements with researchers in corporations and universities, in an effort to reach the product stage as early as possible.

Going from research results to actual provision to society of useful products and systems requires the "commercialization of research results" through tie-ups with private corporations and the creation of venture businesses. When creating products from research results on brain and nervous system measurement and interface technologies, direct impact on human beings (individuals) is unavoidable. For this reason sufficient scientific backing and safety must be assured; moreover, it is vital to guarantee strict information management and create a system that people can use with peace of mind. For carrying out this kind of new product development quickly while giving due attention to safety assurance, the preparation of public development guidelines is an important step.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare started a project to draft medical equipment development guidelines in fiscal 2005. The purpose of the project is to devise guidelines in advance giving the essential performance requirements of medical equipment being developed for eventual release as products, and to facilitate compliance with the inspection standards of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency as well as with international standards. The hope is that the guidelines will make it easier for medical products to be developed quickly that meet the needs of the public. AIST is also involved in this project, proposing guidelines for various kinds of devices. Starting this fiscal year, we have also begun devising nerve electrode development guidelines in view of recent progress in brain research and its application development. (See References.)

Brain and nervous system measurement and interface technology, being a highly advanced subject that deals with the brain, and having the usefulness of being directly involved with human living, has seen a recent acceleration of worldwide research and development activity. In order to keep accurate track of this situation and go from research results to product development as quickly as possible, it is important to carry out surveys of overseas research trends and studies aimed at obtaining a comprehensive overview of basic, application, and product realization activities. AIST researchers are also actively participating in the research work of outside organizations involved in such issues (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, Japan Science and Technology Agency, etc.), and are cocntributing to the development of this field in Japan. (See reports in references.)