Laboratory for Neural Circuit Theory
Laboratory Head
Tomoki FUKAI (Ph.D.)
Our team attempts to clarify the functional roles of the brain circuitry in cognitive behaviors through computational analyses. Higher brain functions, such as learning and memory, motor planning and decision making, engage a wide variety of dynamical systems, from intracellular signaling cascades to interacting neuronal ensembles, in processing information. We study the mechanisms of neural information coding by study the dynamics and functions of networks of spiking neurons analytically or by simulating the behavior of realistic neurons and their networks numerically. Recently, we are particularly interested in understanding the network structure and computational functions of cortical microcircuits. The neuronal network occupying roughly a cubic millimeter of cortical volume can in several respects be regarded as the elementary functional unit of the neocortex. The unit has a six layer structure with a different distribution of neuron types in each layer. The structure exhibits a striking homogeneity across areas engaged in very different computational tasks. This raises a hope that universal laws can be discovered governing the neocortical processing of information. We attempt to create a prototypical model that captures the important properties of the cortical microcircuit. This is still challenging since even such a prototype model is currently not available. To achieve the above goal, we employ multiunit and juxtacellular recordings from the brain of behaving rats to obtain activities of multiple cortical neurons with those of identified neurons. In addition, we perform dynamic clamp experiments to test the hypotheses emerging from theoretical studies. We develop powerful data analysis methods to analyze the multiunit data.
- Modeling cortical microcircuits
- Analysis tools for multiunit data
- Information processing by neural networks
- Multiunit and juxtacellular recordings from the brain of behaving rats
- Neural mechanisms of decision making
- November 09, 2009
- Shaping the way we move
- Takekawa,T., Isomura ,Y., and Fukai, T.:
"Accurate spike-sorting for multiunit recordings."
European Journal of Neuroscience 31(2): 263-272 (2010). - Yazaki-Sugiyama, Y., Kang, S., Cateau ,H., Fukai ,T., and Hensch ,K ,T.:
"Bidirectional plasticity in fast-spiking GABA circuits by visual experience."
Nature 462: 218-221 (2009). - Isomura, Y., Harukuni, R., Takekawa, T., Aizawa, H., and Fukai, T.:
"Microcircuitry coordination of cortical motor information in self-initiation of voluntary movements."
Nature Neuroscience 12: 1586-1593 (2009). - Okamoto ,H., and Fukai ,T.:
"Recurrent network models for perfect temporal integration of fluctuating correlated inputs."
PLoS Computational Biology 5(6): e1000404 (2009). - Teramae ,Jun-nosuke., and Fukai, T.:
"Temporal precision of spike response to fluctuating input in pulse-coupled networks of oscillating neurons."
Physical Review Letters 101: 248105 (2008). - Sakai ,Yutaka,. and Fukai ,T.:
"When does reward maximization lead to matching law?"
PloS One 3(11): e3795 (2008). - Kang ,S., Kitano ,K., and Fukai ,T.:
"Structure of spontaneous UP and DOWN transitions self-organizing in a cortical network model."
PLoS Computational Biology 4(3): e1000022 (2008). - Miura, K., Tsubo ,Y., Okada ,M., and Fukai ,T.:
"Balanced excitatory and inhibitory inputs to cortical neurons decouple firing irregularity from rate modulations."
The Journal of Neuroscience 27:13802-13812 (2007). - Tsubo ,Y., Teramae ,Jun-nosuke., and Fukai ,T.:
"Synchronization of excitatory neurons with strongly heterogeneous phase responses."
Physical Review Letters 99:228101 (2007). - Tsubo, Y., Takada ,M., Reyes, D. A., and Fukai ,T.:
"Layer and frequency dependences of phase response properties of pyramidal neurons in rat motor cortex."
European Journal of Neuroscience 25(11): 3429-3441 (2007).