Research Areas

Tool use, language and self-consciousness are generally believed to be mediated by brain functions that are unique to human. However, their prototype could be present in non-human primates. Our human brain functions are composed of 1) evolutionarily conserved brains functions and 2) brain functions unique to primates including human, which are associated with expansion of cerebral cortex. We believe that common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a small New World primate, could be an appropriate primate model animal to unveil the latter functions. Common marmoset shares with humans, not merely biological features but also higher brain functions including perception, cognition, as well as social abilities. Furthermore, because of its size, availability, and unique biological characteristics, common marmoset has attracted considerable attention as a potentially useful biomedical research animal in fields such as neuroscience, stem cell research, drug toxicology, immunity and autoimmune diseases, and reproductive biology. Marmosets have a relatively short gestation period (about 144 days), reach sexual maturity at 12-18 months, and females have 40-80 offspring during their life. Therefore, the application of transgenic techniques to marmosets may be feasible, and would greatly facilitate the study of higher brain functions and human diseases. Recently, we could develop transgenic common marmosets with germline transmission (Sasaki et al., Nature, 2009). We believe that developing transgenic reporter animals and transgenic cognitive disorder models in common marmoset will be immediately informative, and perhaps allow us to address discrete questions regarding neurobiological bases of human-intellectual function including the mechanism of expansion of cerebral cortex.

Related links

1. RIKEN Brain Science Institute Website_Laboratories Page