Undergraduate Medical Science Course in Tsukuba 2026
On Air
Subject | Natural Science, Medicine & Health, Humanities & Social Sciences
Introduction to Human Brain Science
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Brain Function Imaging Technology
- Functional Brain Mapping
- Neurolinguistics
- fMRI
There are various wonders of the human mind and behavior. Cognitive neuroscience is the study to understand the various information processing in the brain that enable them, as cognitive processes. In this field, functional brain imaging technology, which visualizes cognitive processes in the brain, reveals the brain mechanisms that enable our mentality and behavior. Human brain science, in particular, conducts a variety of basic and applied research on the mysteries of the mind and behavior that characterize “humanness”. How does the mind originate from the brain? The brain integrates various sensory inputs from the environment, associates them with memories, extracts information, makes value assessments, and reflects these in behavior. Functional brain imaging techniques that visualize these various information processing, or cognitive processes which are components of the mind, have made today's cognitive neuroscience possible. This course is designed to introduce you to a wide range of knowledge, from the basics to the latest findings, and to give you a sense of the possibilities of human brain science.
©Tohoku University. Last Update
2026-04-03
Content／学習内容
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We will aim for a basic understanding of the origin of the mind and the technology to visualize it.
- 1-0. Introduction
- 1-1. Basics of Functional Brain Mapping
- 1-2. Primary Sensory Areas
- 1-3. Sensory Association Areas
- 1-4. Motor Areas
- 1-5. Motor Control
- 1-6. Attention
- 1-7. Memory
- 1-8. Emotions (1) Salience/Behavioral Significance Detection and Negative Emotion
- 1-9. Emotions (2) Positive Emotions, Reward Value Representations, and Behavioral Decision Making
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We will look at the complex mind and brain mechanisms that people have developed to live in society.
- 2-0. Introduction
- 2-1. Brain Regions Involved in Language Processing
- 2-2. Mirror Neurons and Embodied Cognition
- 2-3. The Neural Basis of Meaning
- 2-4. Sociality (1) Empathy and Synchrony
- 2-5. Sociality (2) Theory of Mind
- 2-6. Sociality (3) Verbal Communication
- 2-7. Working Memory
- 2-8. Various Thinking
- 2-9. Functional Segregation within Functional Areas: vLPFC as an Example
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We will explore the wonders of the mind and brain that create the self.
- 3-0. Introduction
- 3-1. Self-recognition
- 3-2. Bodily Self-consciousness
- 3-3. Bodily Self and Forward-model Prediction
- 3-4. Self in Others’ Eyes
- 3-5. Social Value and Role of the Self
- 3-6. Three-layer Model of the Self
- 3-7. Forward-model Predictions and Sense of Self-agency
- 3-8. Reciprocal Partner Choice
- 3-9. Emotional Responses to Self-face
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We will introduce you to various areas of research on the potential of human brain science to open up the future.
- 4-0. Introduction
- 4-1. Neural Basis of Safe Driving
- 4-2. Characterization of Brain Function of Skilled Air Traffic Controllers by fMRI.
- 4-3. Power to Live with Disasters and Self-transcendence
- 4-4. What Kind of Thinking in People Who Can Cope with Unexpected Problems
- 4-5-1. Business and Human Brain Science, Part1
- 4-5-2. Business and Human Brain Science, Part2
- 4-6. Neural Basis of Positive Imagery Intervention for Social Anxiety Reduction
- 4-7. Neural Basis of Nostalgia
- 4-8. Can the Critical Thinking Attitudes Be Induced by Training?
- 4-9. Application to Foreign Language Education
Staff／スタッフ
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Motoaki SugiuraTohoku University Institute of Development, Aging and CancerProfessor -
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Makoto TakahashiTohoku University Graduate School of EngineeringProfessor -
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Hyeonjeong JeongTohoku University Graduate School of International Cultural StudiesProfessor -
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Kentaro ObaTohoku University Smart Aging Research CenterSenior Assistant Professor -
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Kohei SakakiTohoku University Cognitive Neuroscience Application CenterAssistant Professor -
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Tetsuya KageyamaTohoku University Forum for Creativity, Organization for Research PromotionSpecially Appointed Associate Professor -
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Naoki MiuraTohoku Institute of Technology Faculty of Engineering Department of Information and Communication EngineeringProfessor -
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Ryo IshibashiNational Institute of Information and Communications Technology Advanced ICT Reseach Institute, Center for Information and Neural NetworksResearch Fellow
※The teachers’ affiliations and titles are current as of the time of recording.
Contact／お問合せ先
Center for the Advancement of Open Online Education, Tohoku University
Email: secretary.mooc@grp.tohoku.ac.jp
