C02 Tatsuya Umeda

C02　Elucidation of neural dynamics in a canonical microcircuit of the cerebral cortex

It is believed that the brain interprets signals from peripheral sensory receptors and estimates the external world through a generative model built on experience. It is also believed that we accurately perceive the external world through active movement by using information for the movement intension, but it is not known how this process is carried out in the nervous system. This study seeks to shed light on the interaction of predictive signals of the external world, sensory signals from the periphery, and movement intension within a canonical microcircuit in the cerebral cortex. I have succeeded in quantitatively assessing the sensation of hand movement of the small monkey marmoset using an originally developed haptic device. I plan to record large-scale neural activity in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and its associated regions when monkeys operate the device. I will then analyze the flow of neural information (neural information dynamics) within a canonical microcircuit of S1 to uncover the mechanisms of information processing within this circuit. Through collaboration with other research groups, I aim to deepen our understanding of information processing in a canonical microcircuit and to explore the computational principles underlying brain function.