My research area is human prospective memory, our everyday ability of remembering/not forgetting to perform an intended plan at a certain time point in the future. I am investigating brain mechanisms underlying prospective memory by using functional brain imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Taking advantage of recent development of an in-laboratory task paradigm in prospective memory research, I have so far clarified that certain areas in the frontal lobes, especially Brodmann area 10 in the anterior prefrontal cortex, as well as the medial temporal lobes are activated when subjects are required to perform a prospective action at a certain time in the future while doing currently ongoing activities (e.g., Okuda et al., Neuroscience Letters, 1998). Apart from prospective memory, I am also interested in cerebral representation of the 'future' in general, and have revealed that the most anterior part of the frontal pole is greatly required in thinking events in the far future, along with activity in the medial temporal lobes (Okuda et al., NeuroImage, 2003).

This page last modified 12 November, 2009 by ICN WEB Team

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