Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Unit

We investigate brain mechanism for controlling of complex sequential actions, such as driving a car. Human can perform sequential actions by making a plan based on an internal behavioral goal and external situations and by timely coordination of cognitive and motor systems according to the plan. We are approaching these research questions using methods and knowledge of cognitive psychology and neuroscience, especially focusing on attention and executive functions. In addition, we seek for serving to bridge the gap between brain science and engineering by proposing new concept of driving assistance on the basis of understanding of brain mechanism of these functions.

Research Fields

Neuroscience & Behavior / Psychology & Psychiatry

Research Subjects

• Mechanism of cognitive control in sequential actions
• Age-related or individual difference of attention and executive functions
• Neural basis of driving behavior

Publications

1. Shimomura, T., & Kumada, T.:
   "Spatial working memory load affects counting but not subitizing in enumeration."
   Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 73, 1694-1709. (2011)
2. Kumada, T.:
   "A search order lost effect: Ignoring a singleton distractor affects visual search efficiency."
   Vision Research. 50, 1402-1413. (2010)
3. Inukai, T., Kawahara, J., & Kumada, T.:
   "Nonspatial interdimensional attentional capture."
   Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 72, 658-666. (2010)
4. Niki, C. , Maruyama, T. , Muragaki, Y., & Kumada, T.:
   "Disinhibition of sequential actions following right frontal lobe damage."
   Congnitive Neuropsychology, 26, 266-285. (2009)
5. Ogawa, H., & Kumada, T.:
   "The encoding process of nonconfigural information in contextual cuing."
   Perception and Psychophysics. 70, 329-336. (2008)
6. Takeda, Y., Phillips, S., & Kumada, T.:
   "A conjunctive feature similarity effect for visual search."
   Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psycholology. 60, 186-190. (2007).
7. Kasai, T., Morita, H., & Kumada, T.:
   "Attribute-invariant orientation discrimination at an early stage of processing in the human visual system."
   Vision Research, 47, 203-209. (2007)
8. Kawahara, J., Kumada, T., & Di Lollo, V.:
   "The attentional blink is governed by a temporary loss of control."
   Psychonomic Bulletin and Review. 13, 886-890. (2006)
9. Kumada, T., & Hayashi, M.:
   "Deficits in feature-based control of attention in a patient with a right fronto-temporal lesion."
   Cognitive Neuropsychology, 23, 401-423. (2006)
10. Kumada, T., & Humphreys, G. W.:
    "Dimensional weighting and task switching following frontal lobe damage: Fractionating the task switching deficit."
    Cognitive Neuropsychology, 23, 424-447. (2006)