Makoto Takahashi

Aging and decision making under uncertainty: behavioral and neural evidence for the preservation of decision making in the absence of learning in old age.

Decision making under uncertainty is an essential component of everyday life. Recent psychological studies suggest that older adults, despite age-related neurological decline, can make advantageous decisions when information about the contingencies of the outcomes is available. In this study, a two-choice prediction paradigm has been used, in conjunction with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), to investigate the effects of normal aging on neural substrates underlying uncertain decision making in the absence of learning that have not been addressed in previous neuroimaging studies. Neuroimaging results showed that both the healthy older and young adults recruited a network of brain regions comprising the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, bilateral inferior parietal lobule, medial frontal cortex, and right lateral orbitofrontal cortex during the prediction task. As was hypothesized, the performance of older adults in the prediction task was not impaired compared to young adults. Although no significant age-related increases in brain activity have been found, we observed an age-related decrease in activity in the right inferior parietal lobule. We speculate that the observed age-related decrease in parietal activity could be explained by age-related differences in decision making behavior revealed by questionnaire results and maximizing scores. Together, this study demonstrates behavioral and neural evidence for the preservation of decision making in older adults when information about the contingencies of the outcome is available.

Two-color double resonance spectroscopy via à 1Au state of acetylene : 3p Rydberg state and its Renner-Teller effect

The two‐color double resonance multiphoton ionization spectra due to the transitions from various rovibrational levels of the Au20091Au state of acetylene to the 3p Rydberg state have been measured. The observed spectra showed large dependence on the quantum number K. It was concluded from the spectral analysis that the geometry of the 3p Rydberg state is linear. The spectra also showed a long progression of the trans‐bending vibration, supporting the linear structure. The trans‐bending progression belonging to the 1Δg electronic state showed the Renner–Teller splittings. The observed splittings were reproduced by the calculation using the formulas for a linear triatomic molecule in a Δ electronic state.

Effect of motion smoothness on brain activity while observing a dance: An fMRI study using a humanoid robot

Abstract Motion smoothness is critical in transmitting implicit information of body action, such as aesthetic qualities in dance performances. We expected that the perception of motion smoothness would be characterized by great intersubject variability deriving from differences in personal backgrounds and attitudes toward expressive body actions. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging and a humanoid robot to investigate the effects of the motion smoothness of expressive body actions and the intersubject variability due to personal attitudes on perceptions during dance observation. The effect of motion smoothness was analyzed by both conventional subtraction analysis and functional connectivity analyses that detect cortical networks reflecting intersubject variability. The results showed that the cortical networks of motion- and body-sensitive visual areas showed increases in activity in areas corresponding with motion smoothness, but the intersubject variability of personal attitudes toward art did not influence these active areas. In contrast, activation of cortical networks, including the parieto-frontal network, has large intersubject variability, and this variability is associated with personal attitudes about the consciousness of art. Thus, our results suggest that activity in the cortical network involved in understanding action is influenced by personal attitudes about the consciousness of art during observations of expressive body actions.

Cortical activation during reading of ancient versus modern Japanese texts: fMRI study

The purpose of this study was to investigate human brain activity during the reading of ancient Japanese texts using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Thirty right-handed normal Japanese subjects performed two reading tasks: covert reading of (1) ancient and (2) modern Japanese text. Common areas are activated during both tasks. Activity in the left inferior frontal cortices increased during the reading of ancient Japanese text compared with the reading of modern Japanese text, whereas occipital activity increased during the reading of modern Japanese text. Our results indicate that ancient Japanese language may be processed as a foreign language.

Decoding what one likes or dislikes from single-trial fNIRS measurements.

Recent functional neuroimaging studies have shown the possibility of decoding human mental states from their brain activity using noninvasive neuroimaging techniques. In this study, we applied multivariate pattern classification, in conjunction with a short interval of functional near-infrared spectroscopy measurements of the anterior frontal cortex, to decode whether a human likes or dislikes a presented visual object; an ability that is quite beneficial for a number of clinical and technological applications. A variety of objects comprising sceneries, cars, foods, and animals were used as the stimuli. The results showed the possibility of predicting subjective preference from a short interval of functional near-infrared spectroscopy measurements of the anterior frontal regions. In addition, the pattern localization results showed the neuroscientific validity of the constructed classifier.

Cognitive model of team cooperation in en-route air traffic control

Since controller teams are in charge of en-route air traffic control, team cooperation is a key issue for good control performance. We conducted ethnographic field observation at the Tokyo Area Control Center and then analyzed the obtained data to develop a cognitive model of team cooperation in en-route air traffic control. We segmented conversational records, behavioral records, and so on by control unit, and then clarified relations between the segments and identified expert knowledge and judgment behind them. Cognitive processes of controller teams were reconstructed based on a concept of distributed cognition. The analysis revealed that the mutual belief model is applicable to team cooperation processes, the role assignment of tasks within a controller team is implicit and that control plans are implemented smoothly once team situation awareness has been established. A cognitive model of controllers’ team cooperation has been constructed based on these findings.

Neural bases of goal-directed implicit learning

Several neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies have been performed to clarify the neural bases of implicit learning, but the question of which brain regions are involved in different forms of implicit learning, including goal-directed learning and habit learning, has not yet been resolved. The present study sought to clarify the mechanisms of goal-directed implicit learning by examining the sugar production factory (SPF) task in conjunction with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Several brain regions were identified that contribute to learning in the SPF task. Significant learning-related decreases in brain activity were found in the right inferior parietal lobule (IPL), left superior frontal gyrus, right medial frontal gyrus, cerebellar vermis, and left inferior frontal gyrus, while significant learning-related increases in activity were observed in the right inferior frontal gyrus, left precenteral gyrus and, left precuneus. Among these regions, we speculate that the IPL and medial frontal gyrus may specifically be involved in the early stage of goal-directed implicit learning. We also attempted to investigate the role of the striatum, which has a significant role in habit learning, during learning of the SPF task. The results of ROI analysis showed no learning-related change in the activity of the striatum. Although some of the observed learning-related activations in this study have also been previously reported in neuroimaging studies of habit learning, the possibility that specific brain regions involved in goal-direct implicit learning cannot be excluded.

A visualization tool of en route air traffic control tasks for describing controller's proactive management of traffic situations

Improvements of aviation systems are now in progress to ensure the safety and efficiency of air transport in response to the rapid growth of air traffic. For providing theoretical and empirical basis for design and evaluation of aviation systems, researches focusing on cognitive aspects of air traffic controllers are definitely important. Whereas various researches from cognitive perspective have been performed in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) domain, there are few researches trying to illustrate ATCO’s control strategies and their effects on task demands in real work situations. The authors believe that findings from these researches can contribute to reveal why ATCOs are capable of handling air traffic safely and efficiently even in the high-density traffic condition. It can be core knowledge for tackling human factors issues in the ATC domain such as development of further effective education and training program of ATCO trainees. However, it is difficult to perform such kinds of researches because identification of ATC task from a given traffic situation and specification of effects of ATCO’s control strategies on task demands requires expert knowledge of ATCOs. The present research therefore aims at developing an automated identification and visualization tool of en route ATC tasks based on a cognitive system simulation of an en route controller called COMPAS (COgnitive system Model for simulating Projection-based behaviors of Air traffic controller in dynamic Situations), developed by the authors. The developed visualization tool named COMPASi (COMPAS in interactive mode) equips a projection process model that can simulate realistic features of ATCO’s projection involving setting extra margins for errors of projection. The model enables COMPASi to detect ATC tasks in a given traffic situation automatically and to identify Task Demand Level (TDL), that is, an ATC task index. The basic validity of COMPASi has been confirmed through detailed comparison between TDLs given by a training instructor and ones by COMPASi in a simulation-based experiment. Since TDL corresponds to demands of ATC tasks, temporal sequences of TDLs can reflect effectiveness of ATCO’s control strategies in terms of regulating task demands. By accumulation and analysis of such kind of data, it may be expected to reveal important aspect of ATCO’s skill for achieving the safety and efficiency of air traffic.

Proactive Information Provision for Reducing Social Construct Risk of Nuclear Facility

Outlines of, and the empirical observations from, an action research project aiming at improvement of relationship between nuclear community and the public have been reported in this paper. Ultimate goal of the project is effective reduction of social construct risk of nuclear power plants. As an initial effort to reach the goal, a proactive information provision scheme has been designed based on the knowledge acquired during our previous attempt of public communication named repetitive dialogue forum. The information contents consistent with the actual need of local citizens has been derived from the previous experiences and provided in the present project. Although the project is in its incipient stage, the observations are informative enough to update the project further to attain the ultimate purpose of reducing the social construct component of technological risk of nuclear facilities

Bronchial response to methacholine and histamine in monkeys with beta adrenergic blockade

The possibility has been investigated that propranolol administration could alter bronchial reactivity to methacholine and histamine in monkeys (Macaca fuscata and Macaca fascicularis). The impedance of the total respiratory system was measured by the forced 3-HZ oscillation method through an endotracheal tube. Methacholine and histamine dose-dependently increased the impedance in monkeys irrespective of the route of administration (inhalation of aerosol or intravenous injection). Propranolol treatment increased the bronchial response to intravenously injected methacholine and caused no significant change in the bronchial response to aerosolized methacholine. No marked difference was observed in the bronchial response to histamine due to treatment with propranolol regardless of whether administered by intravenous injection or aerosol challenge.