About the Lab

Research

Our laboratory mainly uses neuroimaging to clarify the relationship between the structure and function of human brains. Various activities in daily life are supported by information processing in the brain. While neuroscience has made substantial progress in understanding brain functions, a major question regarding how brain functions emerge from brain structure remains largely unresolved.

Takemura Lab belongs to the National Institute for Physiological Sciences, which is an institute located in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture in Japan.

We are trying to understand the structure-function relationship in the brain by combining multiple approaches described below.

Visual Neuroscience and Visual Psychophysics

We investigate how visual information from the environment is processed in human brains by investigating brain activity and underlying brain structure. We mainly use brain mapping methods such as functional MRI and structural MRI. In parallel with this, we are also conducting research to discover new perceptual phenomena through psychophysical experiments, verify the mechanisms behind them, and evaluate individual characteristics of the human visual system.

Recent publications on this topic:
Nakayama, R., Uetsuki, M., Maruya, K. & Takemura, H. (2024) Evaluating correlations between reading ability and psychophysical measurements of dynamic visual information processing in Japanese adults. Scientific Reports, 14, 29546.

Luo, J., Yokoi, I., Dumoulin, S.O. & Takemura, H. (2024) Bistable perception of symbolic numbers. Journal of Vision, 24, 12.

Miyata, T., Benson, N.C., Winawer, J. & Takemura, H. (2022) Structural covariance and heritability of the optic tract and primary visual cortex in living human brains. The Journal of Neuroscience, 42, 6761-6769.

Brain Imaging and Analysis Methods

We are working on developing methods to improve the precision of current neuroimaging data acquisition methods by using 7T MRI and 3T MRI with a strong gradient coil installed at the National Institute for Physiological Sciences. We are also working on developing analysis methods for improving the reliability of neuroimaging data.

Recent publications on this topic:

Takemura, H., Liu, W., Kuribayashi, H., Miyata, T. & Kida, I. (2023) Evaluation of simultaneous multi-slice readout-segmented diffusion-weighted MRI acquisition in human brain optic nerve measurements. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 102, 103-114.

Oishi, H., Takemura, H. & Amano, K. (2023) Macromolecular tissue volume mapping of lateral geniculate nucleus subdivisions in living human brains. NeuroImage, 265, 119777.

Analysis of white matter tracts using diffusion MRI

By analyzing the microstructure of white matter fiber tracts using diffusion MRI, we promote research on brain function, development, individual differences, genetics, aging, and so on. In particular, we are working on collaborative research on the motor system, reward system, and frontal-parietal network by widely expanding our expertise in diffusion MRI studies, which we have built up through research on the visual system.

Recent publications on this topic:

Morita, T., Takemura, H. & Naito, E. (2023) Functional and Structural Properties of Interhemispheric Interaction between Bilateral Precentral Hand Motor Regions in a Top Wheelchair Racing Paralympian. Brain Sciences, 13, 715.

Amemiya, K., Naito, E. & Takemura, H. (2021) Age dependency and lateralization in the three branches of the human superior longitudinal fasciculus. Cortex, 139, 116-133.

Comparative Brain Mapping

Neuroscience studies include studies on human brains and animal brains. Both approaches have complementary advantages. We aim to investigate in which aspect animal brains are similar or different from human brains to improve our understanding of human brain functions and disorders. In addition, these studies will help integrate the findings of MRI-based studies with those of anatomical studies, contributing to the identification of the biological basis of brain health and disease. In our laboratory, we use neuroimaging methods to perform comparative analysis.

Recent publications on this topic:

Takemura, H., Kaneko, T., Sherwood, C.C., Johnson, G.A., Axer, M., Hecht, E.E., Ye, F.Q. & Leopold, D.A. (2024) A prominent vertical occipital white matter fasciculus unique to primate brains. Current Biology, 34, 3632-3643.

Takemura, H.*, Palomero-Gallagher, N.*, Axer, M., Gräßel, D., Jorgensen, M.J., Woods, R. & Zilles, K.* (2020) Anatomy of nerve fiber bundles at micrometer-resolution in the vervet monkey visual system. eLife, 9, e55444. (*: equal contributions)

Collaborative Work with Clinicians

Our laboratory is collaborating with the clinical group on ophthalmology (Jikei University School of Medicine) to investigate how retinal disorders affect the nervous system for contributing to our society.

Recent publications on this topic:

Ogawa, S.*, Takemura, H.*, Horiguchi, H., Miyazaki, A., Matsumoto, K., Masuda, Y., Yoshikawa, K. & Nakano, T. (2022) Multi-contrast magnetic resonance imaging of visual white matter pathways in patients with glaucoma. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 63, 29. (*: equal contribution)

Masuda, Y., Takemura, H., Terao, M., Miyazaki, A., Ogawa, S., Horiguchi, H., Nakadomari, S., Matsumoto, K., Nakano, T., Wandell, B.A. & Amano, K. (2021) V1 projection zone signals in human macular degeneration depend on task despite absence of visual stimulus. Current Biology, 31(2), 406-412.