Introduction

The biosignal physiology team is working to understand the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of circulatory and metabolic signals detected by PET, MRI and optical instruments (visible and infrared light).

Our research interest is strongly focused on the transient changes in microcirculation related to neuronal activation, with the major goal being to understand the mechanism of 'neurovascular coupling'.

Research Introduction

Our project consists of three research streams:

1. in vivo microcirculation research using two-photon laser microscopy

Figure 1:Laser-doppler blood flow measurement system (left), and two-photon laser microscopy setup (right).

2. Research aimed at understanding the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of functional imaging

Figure 2:Activated area during visual stimulation detected by BOLD MRI (right), and by CBF-perfusion MRI (middle). The activation area and time course (right) of the BOLD MRI signal differ from those obtained with CBF-perfusion MRI.

3. Clinical application of evidence-based functional imaging methods

Figure 3: Multi-Modal 3D analysis collaborated with VCAD project, RIKEN

Figure 4: Effect of chewing on the activity in working memory processing.

Figure 5: Quantitative measurement of molecular concentration in brain using proton MR spectroscopy

members