Our perceptual experiences are created by our brains and do not necessarily correspond to the physical properties of the world. To clarify the mechanisms by which the human brain generates perceptual experiences, Hayashi Laboratory in the Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet) studies human brains using psychophysics and functional brain imaging techniques. Furthermore, we are trying to clarify the causal relationship between the brain and perception by investigating how the perceptual experience changes when magnetic or electric current stimulation is applied to the brain. Our goal is to apply the findings from these studies to develop technologies that allow us to control our subjective senses at will and to create new perceptual experiences that we have never experienced before.

NEWS

UPCOMING
EVENTS

APPROACH

Uncovering
Neural Correlates

Through psychophysical and neuroimaging experiments, we clarify the neural basis of perception and cognition. Recently, we have been studying the neural mechanisms of temporal and numerical processing, with particular focus on their neural representations and its relationship with our percepts. In the future, I would like to deepen these researches, and also to study how the way information is represented constrains human thoughts and language.

Revealing
Causal Relationships

A weakness of neuroimaging techniques is that while it can reveal the correlation between perception / cognition and brain activity, it cannot reveal the causal relationship between them. Therefore, we use techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS, tSMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (tDCS, tACS) techniques, which can stimulate the brain non-invasively, to temporarily modulate neural activity and clarify the causal relationship between brain activity and perception / cognition. Currently, we are mainly investigating how the perception of time and number is modulated by brain stimulation.

Augmenting
Human Abilities

Based on the knowledge obtained from psychophysical experiments, neuroimaging, and brain stimulation experiments, we will develop technologies that can improve human perception and cognitive abilities and control them at will. To achieve this goal, we combine wearable devices which allows us to collect external and internal biological information, machine learning techniques, and sensory and brain stimulation methods. In the future, we further expand this idea to develop a new technology that helps us to acquire new abilities that humans have never had before, and to implement it in society.

PUBLICATIONS

PREPRINTS

  1. Kawashima T, Hayashi MJ, Amano K (2022) Attentional rhythmic blink: Theta/Alpha balance in neural oscillations determines the rhythmicity in visual sampling. bioRxiv. [Full text]

PAPERS

  1. Kido T, Yotsumoto Y, Hayashi MJ (2025) Hierarchical representations of relative numerical magnitudes in the human frontoparietal cortex. Nature Communications, 16:419. [PubMed] [Full text] [Press Release]
  2. Kimura I, Hayashi MJ, Amano K (2024) Immediate effect of quadri-pulse stimulation on human brain microstructures and functions. Imaging Neuroscience, 2: 1–15. [Full text]
  3. Protopapa F, Kulashekhar S, Hayashi MJ, Kanai R, Bueti D (2023) Effective connectivity in a duration selective cortico-cerebellar network. Scientific Reports, 13:20674. [PubMed] [Full text]
  4. Gallego Hiroyasu EM, Laje R, Nomura K, Spiousas I, Hayashi MJ, Yotsumoto Y (2023) Longitudinal analysis of social isolation effects on finger tapping in the Blursday database. Scientific Reports, 13:11277. [PubMed] [Full text]
  5. Kawashima T, Shibusawa S, Hayashi MJ, Ikeda T, Tanaka S (2023) Recent advances in brain stimulation techniques: The interface with cognitive psychology. The Japanese Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 20(2): 91-101. (Japanese) [Full text]
  6. Li L, Yotsumoto Y, Hayashi MJ (2022) Temporal perceptual learning distinguishes between empty and filled intervals. Scientific Reports, 12: 9824. [PubMed] [Full text]
  7. Kimura I, Ugawa Y, Hayashi MJ*, Amano K* (2022) Quadripulse stimulation: A replication study with a newly developed stimulator. Brain Stimulation, 15(3): 579-581. *Equal contribution. [PubMed] [Full text]
  8. Kimura I, Oishi H, Hayashi MJ*, Amano K* (2022) Microstructural properties of human brain revealed by fractional anisotropy can predict the after-effect of intermittent theta burst stimulation. Cerebral Cortex Communications, 3(1): tgab065. *Equal contribution. [PubMed] [Full text]
  9. Sugiyama S, Gallego-Hiroyasu EM, Nomura K, Hayashi MJ, Yotsumoto Y (2021) Longitudinal evaluation of the impact of the COVID-19-associated confinement on loneliness, anxiety, and sleep in a Japanese population. The Japanese Journal of Psychology, 92(5): 397-407. (Japanese) [Full text]
  10. Hayashi MJ, Ivry RB (2020) Duration selectivity in right parietal cortex reflects the subjective experience of time. Journal of Neuroscience, 40(40): 7749-7758. [PubMed] [Full text] [Covered in Nature as "Research Highlight"]
  11. Protopapa F, Hayashi MJ, Kulashekhar S, van der Zwaag W, Battistella G, Murray MM, Kanai R, Bueti D (2019) Chronotopic maps in human supplementary motor area. PLoS Biology, 17(3): e3000026. [PubMed] [Full text] [Recommended in Faculty Opinions]
  12. Hayashi MJ, van der Zwaag W, Bueti D, Kanai R (2018) Representations of time in human frontoparietal cortex. Communications Biology, 1(1): 233. [PubMed] [Full text]
  13. Kanaya S, Hayashi MJ, Whitney D (2018) Exaggerated groups: Amplification in ensemble coding of temporal and spatial features. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 285(1879). [PubMed] [Full text]
  14. Okamoto Y, Kosaka H, Kitada R, Seki A, Tanabe HC, Hayashi MJ, Kochiyama T, Saito DN, Yanaka HT, Munesue T, Ishitobi M, Omori M, Wada Y, Okazawa H, Koeda T, and Sadato N (2017) Age-dependent abnormalities in body- and face-sensitive activation of the EBA and FFA in individuals with ASD. Neuroscience Research, 119: 38-52. [PubMed] [Full text]
  15. Hayashi MJ (2016) Brain mechanisms for measuring time: Population coding of durations. Brain Nerve, 68(11): 1385-1391. (Japanese) [PubMed] [Full text]
  16. Hayashi MJ, Ditye T, Harada T, Hashiguchi M, Sadato N, Carlson S, Walsh V, Kanai R (2015) Time adaptation shows duration selectivity in the human parietal cortex. PLoS Biology, 13(9): e1002262. [PubMed] [Full text]
  17. Okamoto Y, Kitada R, Tanabe HC, Hayashi MJ, Kochiyama T, Munesue T, Ishitobi M, Saito DN, Yanaka HT, Omori M, Wada Y, Okazawa H, Sasaki AT, Morita T, Itakura S, Kosaka H, Sadato N (2014) Attenuation of the contingency detection effect in the extrastriate body area in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neuroscience Research, 87: 66-76. [PubMed] [Full text]
  18. Hayashi MJ, Kantele M, Walsh V, Carlson S, Kanai R (2014) Dissociable neuroanatomical correlates of subsecond and suprasecond time perception. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 26(8): 1685-1693. [PubMed] [Full text]
  19. Yoshida Y, Tanabe HC, Hayashi MJ, Kawamichi H, Kochiyama T, Sadato N (2013) The neural substrates of the warning effect: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Neuroscience Research, 76(4): 230-239. [PubMed] [Full text]
  20. Sakai H, Uchiyama Y, Shin D, Hayashi MJ, Sadato N (2013) Neural activity changes associated with impulsive responding in the sustained attention to response task. PLoS One, 8(6): e67391. [PubMed] [Full text]
  21. Hayashi MJ, Valli A, Carlson S (2013) Numerical quantity affects time estimation in the suprasecond range. Neuroscience Letters, 543: 7-11. [PubMed] [Full text]
  22. Hayashi MJ, Kanai R, Tanabe HC, Yoshida Y, Carlson S, Walsh V, Sadato N (2013) Interaction of numerosity and time in prefrontal and parietal cortex. Journal of Neuroscience, 33(3): 883-893. [PubMed] [Full text]
  23. Tanabe HC*, Kosaka H*, Saito DN, Koike T, Hayashi MJ, Izuma K, Komeda H, Ishitobi M, Omori M, Munesue T, Okazawa H, Wada Y, Sadato N (2012) Hard to “tune in”: neural mechanisms of eye contact and joint attention in high-functioning autistic spectrum disorder. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6: 268. *Equal contribution. [PubMed] [Full text]
  24. Saito DN*, Tanabe HC*, Izuma K, Hayashi MJ, Morito Y, Komeda H, Uchiyama H, Kosaka H, Okazawa H, Fujibayashi Y, Sadato N (2010) “Stay-tuned”: inter-individual neural synchronization during gaze and joint attention. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 4: 127. *Equal contribution. [PubMed] [Full text]
  25. Hayashi MJ, Saito DN, Aramaki Y, Asai T, Fujibayashi Y, Sadato N (2008) Hemispheric asymmetry of frequency-dependent suppression in the ipsilateral primary motor cortex during finger movement: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Cerebral Cortex, 18(12): 2932-2940. [PubMed] [Full text]

BOOKS

  1. Hayashi MJ. 時間感覚の文脈依存性とその神経機構. Clinical Neuroscience(Chugai-igakusha) 41(8), Aug 2023. (Japanese)
  2. Hayashi MJ. Q&A–神経科学の素朴な疑問. Clinical Neuroscience(Chugai-igakusha) 40(2), Feb 2022. (Japanese)
  3. Hayashi MJ. 素顔のニューロサイエンティスト. Clinical Neuroscience(Chugai-igakusha) 36(124), Jan 2018. (Japanese)
  4. Hayashi MJ. 時間感覚を担う脳領域. Clinical Neuroscience(Chugai-igakusha) 33, May 2015. (Japanese)

FACILITIES

COMMON FACILITIES

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Siemens MAGNETOM Prisma, PrismaFit, Vida (3 Tesla)
Siemens MAGNETOM Terra(7 Tesla)

Magnetoencephalography

Elekta Neuromag 360-channel MEG System

LAB FACILITIES

Transcracial Magnetic Stimulation

Magstim 2002, BiStim2
Deymed DuoMAG MP-Quad

TMS Navigation System

Rogue Research Brainsight

TMS Cobot

Axilum TMS-Cobot

Transcranial Static Magnetic Stimulation

Neurek MAG45r+, MAG50r+

Transcranial electrical stimulation (tDCS/tACS) devices, an electroencephalography (EEG) system, eye trackers, and sound-proof experimental rooms are also available.

TEAM

STAFF

Masamichi HAYASHI, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Senior Researcher, CiNet

Guest Associate Professor, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University
  • subjectivity
  • perception of time and space
  • brain
  • human augmentation

Ken ISOSAKI

Technical Staff

Systems engineer, Media-X Co.,Ltd.
  • Java
  • shogi
  • reading

COOPERATIVE VISITING RESEARCHER

Masakazu SUGIMOTO

Cooperative Visiting Researcher, CiNet

Graduate student, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University

JSPS Research Fellow (DC2)
  • brain stimulation
  • MRI
  • time perception
  • cognitive neuroscience

Ryo KANECHI

Cooperative Visiting Researcher, CiNet

Graduate student, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University

Fellowship Student, Next Generation Researcher Development Project
  • duration perception
  • temporal resolution
  • psychophysics

Tomoki TAKAHASHI

Cooperative Visiting Researcher, CiNet

Graduate student, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University

Fellowship Student, Next Generation Researcher Development Project
  • numerosity perception
  • synesthesia
  • multisensory integration

DAI Zerui

Cooperative Visiting Researcher, CiNet

Graduate student, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University
  • time perception
  • linguistics

Minto HASHIMOTO

Cooperative Visiting Researcher, CiNet

Graduate student, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University
  • window of simultaneity
  • time perception
  • visual Perception

Naoya SUGIMOTO

Cooperative Visiting Researcher, CiNet

Graduate student, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University
  • time perception
  • cognitive neuroscience
  • MRI

COLLABORATOR

Yosuke SAKAMOTO

Graduate student, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University

Natsuki UEDA

JSPS Postdoctoral Research Fellow

National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry

Ankit MAURYA

Graduate student

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

Neil ROACH

Professor

University of Nottingham

Mitsunari ABE

Manager

National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry

Tony THOMAS

Assistant Professor

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

Tsukasa KIMURA

Assistant Professor

Osaka University

Teruaki KIDO

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Brown University

Ikko KIMURA

Postdoctoral Researcher

Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance

Yuko YOTSUMOTO

Professor

The University of Tokyo

ALUMNI

Ryohei OBATA

Technical Staff

Jul 2023 – Mar 2025

Yukari TAKUWA

Administrative Specialist

Sep 2023 – Nov 2024

Kohhei HOSOYA

Graduate student

Apr 2021 – Mar 2024

Natsuha FUJIHARA

Administrative Specialist

Sep 2019 – Jul 2023

Masaki TERANISHI

Intern

Mar 2023

Noah NAKANISHI

Intern

Feb 2023 – Mar 2023

Naoto ICHIKAWA

Technical Staff

Nov 2022 – Mar 2023

Shihomi KAWASAKI

Technical Staff

Jun 2022 – Mar 2023

VACANCIES

There are several funding opportunities available for prospective PhD students and postdocs. Intern students from foreign countries are also welcomed. If you are interested in joining our team, please feel free to contact us! For the funding opportunities, please refer to this page.

For more information, please contact: m.hayashi[at]nict.go.jp

ACCESS

CONTACT

Center for Information and Neural Networks
1-4 Yamadaoka, Suita City, Osaka, 565-0871
E-mail：m.hayashi[at]nict.go.jp

See here for directions to CiNet from Kansai International
Airport

MAP