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RIKEN Center for Brain Science Hierarchical Neural Computation RIKEN ECL Research Unit

RIKEN ECL Unit Leader: Toshitake Asabuki (Ph.D.)

Research Summary

Toshitake Asabuki

The brain can flexibly learn from new experiences by integrating them with prior knowledge. This requires hierarchically organizing information to form rich representations of the external world. Our lab investigates the neural circuit mechanisms behind this by building mathematical models of synaptic plasticity that enables multiple interconnected neural circuits to collaboratively learn. We aim to deeply understand the computational principles of the brain's remarkable learning abilities by using computational models to replicate diverse experimental findings.

Main Research Fields

  • Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering

Related Research Fields

  • Engineering
  • Informatics
  • Complex Systems
  • Mathematical & Physical Sciences
  • Biological Sciences
  • Computational brain science
  • Learning
  • Information processing

Keywords

  • Computational neuroscience
  • Synaptic plasticity
  • Neural network

Selected Publications

  • 1. Asabuki, T. and Clopath, C.:
    "Taming the chaos gently: a predictive alignment learning rule in recurrent neural networks."
    Nature Communications, 16: 6784. (2025).
    DOI:10.1038/s41467-025-61309-9
  • 2. Asabuki, T., Gillon, CJ., and Clopath, C.:
    "Learning predictive signals within a local recurrent circuit"
    PNAS, 122 (27) e2414674122. (2025).
  • 3. Asabuki, T. and Clopath, C.:
    "Embedding stochastic dynamics of the environment in spontaneous activity by prediction-based plasticity."
    eLife, 13:RP95243. (2025).
    DOI:10.7554/eLife.95243
  • 4. Asabuki, T. and Fukai, T.:
    "Predictive learning rules generate a cortical-like replay of probabilistic sensory experiences."
    eLife, 13:RP92712. (2025).
    DOI:10.7554/eLife.92712
  • 5. Asabuki, T and Fukai, T.:
    "Somatodendritic consistency check for temporal feature segmentation."
    Nature Communications, 11:1554. (2020).
    DOI:10.1038/s41467-020-15367-w
  • 6. Asabuki, T., Hiratani, T., and Fukai, T.:
    "Interactive reservoir computing for chunking information streams."
    PLOS Computational Biology, 14(10): e1006400. (2018).
    DOI:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006400

Related Links

Lab Members

Principal investigator

Toshitake Asabuki
RIKEN ECL Unit Leader

Contact Information

Brain Science Central Bldg.
2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
Email: toshitake.asabuki@riken.jp

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