Laboratories
Laboratory for Neuroinformatics
Shiro USUI
Laboratory Head
Shiro USUI (Ph.D.)
mail

Research Areas

The fast advancement of neuroscience research results in research specialization, making difficult to grasp how the nervous system works as a whole. As an answer for this issue, Neuroinformatics (NI) aims to provide a framework for data sharing and integration. In this sense, mathematical model integrates individual findings concerning the brain research, by providing a common language for the understanding of the brain as a system. Moreover, another important task of NI is to provide research supporting tools for the accumulation and management of information regarding brain research.
Based on these backgrounds, we have developed and provided the base platform for supporting brain research, and a database content visualization tool. In addition, as a concrete research example for the evaluation of a knowledge integration system, we are carrying on research to collect and integrate findings from the various levels of the visual system, from single retinal neuron to higher brain function, by developing mathematical models from electrophysiological and psychophysical experiments.

Research Subject

  1. Development of database content visualization technology
  2. Research resources management tool: Concierge
  3. Collaborative base platform for large scale brain model: Plato
  4. Neuroscience research in vision
  5. Computational neuroscience research in vision

Related links

  1. RIKEN Brain Science Institute Website_Laboratories PageNew Window
  2. Individual Website Laboratory PageNew Window

RIKEN RESEARCH

August 03, 2007
Towards the creation of Astro Boy's brainNew Window

List of Selected Publications

  1. Inagaki K, Hirata Y, and Usui S.:
    "A model-based theory on the signal transformation for microsaccade generation"
    Neural Networks, 24(9), 990-7 (2011)
  2. Kannon T, Inagaki K, Kamiji NL, Makimura K, and Usui S.:
    "PLATO: Data-oriented approach to collaborative large-scale brain system modeling"
    Neural Networks, 24(9), 918-26 (2011)
  3. Yamazaki T, Ikeno H, Okumura Y, Satoh S, Kamiyama Y, Hirata Y, Inagaki K, Ishihara A, Kannon T, and Usui S.:
    "Simulation Platform: a cloud-based online simulation environment"
    Neural Networks, 24(7), 693-8 (2011)
  4. Harimoto T, Takei K, Kawano T, Ishihara A, Kawashima T, Kaneko H, Ishida M, and Usui S.:
    "Enlarged gold-tipped silicon microprobe arrays and signal compensation for multi-site electroretinogram recordings in the isolated carp retina"
    Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 26(5), 2368-75 (2011)
  5. Usui S, Kamiji NL, Taniguchi T, Ueda N.:
    "RAST: finding related documents based on triplet similarity"
    Neural Computing and Applications, DOI: 10.1007/s00521-010-0392-6 (2010)
  6. Kawano T, Harimoto T, Ishihara A, Takei K, Kawashima T, Usui S, Ishida M.:
    " Electrical interfacing between neurons and electronics via vertically integrated sub-4μm-diameter silicon probe arrays fabricated by vapor-liquid-solid growth"
    Biosensors and Bioelectronics 25(7), 1809-1815 (2010)
  7. Sasaki H, Satoh S, Usui S.:
    "Neural implementation of coarse-to-fine processing in V1 simple neurons"
    Neurocomputing 73(4-6), 867-873 (2010)
  8. Kamiyama Y, Wu SM, Usui S.:
    "Simulation analysis of bandpass filtering properties of a rod photoreceptor network"
    Vision Research 49(9), 970-978 (2009)
  9. Satoh S, Usui S:
    "Engineering-Approach Accelerates Computational Understanding of V1-V2 Neural properties"
    Cognitive Neurodynamics 3(1), 1-8 (2009)
  10. Yonehara K, Ishikane H, Sakuta H, Shintani T, Yonehara K, Kamiji NL, Usui S, Noda M.:
    "Identification of Retinal Ganglion Cells and Their Projections Involved in Central Transmission of Information about Upward and Downward Image Motion"
    PLoS ONE 4(1), e4320, 1-14 (2009)

Members

Principal Investigator

Shiro USUI
Laboratory Head

Members

Takayuki KANNON
Research Scientist
Masahiro YAMADA
Research Scientist
Hajime HIRASAWA
Research Scientist
Nilton Liuji KAMIJI
Technical Staff
Kouji MAKIMURA
Technical Staff
Misato IGA
Technical Staff
Yoshimi KAMIYAMA
Visiting Scientist
Shigeki NAKAUCHI
Visiting Scientist
Hidetoshi IKENO
Visiting Scientist
Naonori UEDA
Visiting Scientist
Akito ISHIHARA
Visiting Scientist
Shunji SATOH
Visiting Scientist
Yutaka HIRATA
Visiting Scientist
Akimichi KANEKO
Visiting Scientist
Shigeru TANAKA
Visiting Scientist
Masanobu MIYASHITA
Visiting Scientist
Kunihiko FUKUSHIMA
Research Collaborative Advisor
Tomoya KUROMARU
Jinzai