RIKEN Brain Science Institute (RIKEN BSI) RIKEN BSI News No. 10 (Dec. 2000)



Starting from Chatting

Dr. Jun Motoyama
Senior Scientist Molecular Neuropathology Group

I am studying the development of the brain. The study of brain development bears resemblance to that of history. In the development process, a fertilized egg frequently undergoes cell division to gradually grow bigger, until at last it will turn into many different masses of cells. This may be identical to cancer in that they equally keep on multiplying. What distinguishes it from cancer is that growing cells earn diversified properties with appropriate timing and numerous cell groups take a fixed time-space configuration. Thus, there is never a moment when cells remain in the same state. I am attempting to clarify a causal relationship in ever-changing cellular forms as well as cell groups that are increasingly diversified. This attempt is just like tracking back in history. While studying these themes, I have often asked myself about my own brain. What kind of a character am I? What pleases, displeases, concerns, assures, irritates, impresses, saddens, angers or excites me, and what food, sounds and scenery do I like or dislike. What kind of factors has helped form these traits in me? 35 years have passed since my brain came into the world. In that period of time, my preferences have been changing gradually. You may say that's just natural-because I have experienced so many things... because I have amassed what I have learned and memorized in that period. Then, in what aspects and how has my brain been changing? Needless to say, the character inherited from my parents comprises the core of such changes in my brain, but another clue seems to be found in the growth path that my brain has been on. As in the research of a brain development, I am interested in going back in the history of my brain in an effort to explain what kinds of experience, learning and memory have helped form which trait of mine at which time. A recent tendency of mine is to extend this interest to others as well. In the past, I was almost never curious about what other people said or did. But now I think about other people and ask them various questions. For example, I often ask myself this: 'Why does this person look so nice? What kind of things does he or she like? What experience has he or she had thus far?' Even when talking with some scientist about their research, I occasionally wonder why he or she is studying this theme or why he or she is taking this approach? To know many things about him or her, I ask lots of questions. In fact, I have become extremely interested in other people. It is probably my experience in studying abroad that has changed my attitude in this manner. When I was studying abroad, all people around me showed a great deal of originality, irrespective of sex or age. It seemed like each individual was releasing his or her own energy. None of them were identical to each other in any respect. What is more, they seemed natural and to be under no constraints. I would often chat with them over beer or while performing an experiment. It is no exaggeration to say that when I was studying abroad, I spent most of my time talking with those around me, although my English was poor. We would choose whatever topic with no holds barred. For example, we talked about what we could do to modify a human being to improve his performance. Miniaturization of human beings could help to ease food shortage or energy shortage. It would be a good idea to start a business of selling ever-lasting life by making a human body with cloning technology and transplanting a brain into it... and so on. Although we discussed nebulous matters like these, I realized that each individual has his own brain. Namely, what I found through such conversations is diversity of personalities. It's really nice to be able to think differently from others. Being varied or diversified is neat ミ I still believe so. Japanese have a great deal of individuality, but few tend to express it aggressively. So I have to ask lots of questions to get to know a person that I talk to. For this reason, my fellow workers in the lab have started calling me an "interviewer." Now letユs stop chatting and try to find something novel and interesting in our work that cannot be found in any kind of journals. I believe that science is something for us to enjoy. I have a feeling that my brain will be changing further. If we enjoy ourselves, our brains must be happy as well.
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