Research

The goal of the research of this department is to elucidate the brain mechanisms of perceptual or cognitive functions, in order to better understand clinical symptoms, for example, agnosia, aphasia and amnesia. Current research centers mainly on the temporal lobe of the monkey that have a well-developed ability of visual perception.

Outline of Projects

1. Mechanisms of form vision in the occipital and the temporal association cortex are investigated through analysis on neuronal activities and also on behaviors of monkeys performing various visual discrimination tasks.
2. Roles in each region of the temporal cortex in the mnemonic and learning process are analyzed in monkeys with partial lesions in the temporal cortex, and the development of these functions are investigated in infant monkeys.
3. An important question in visual perception is how visual features, colors, orientations of contrast, and sizes are selected and conjugated. The basic neural mechanisms of visual association cortex are investigated through analysis of neuronal activities, EEG and eye movements.
4. The organization of the intrinsic neural circuit is investigated between the visual association cortices and related structures, particularly with the limbic system, using methods of axon flow with anterograde tracers.

Staff