Leveraging Experience for Ambitious Research with Improved Data Accuracy

I entered a combined junior and senior high school through an entrance exam. After advancing to the senior high division, I found myself in an environment where the majority of students went on to the affiliated university. It was then that I developed a desire to aim higher and learn in a new environment, so I decided to attend a university in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

At that point, I hadn't yet narrowed down what I wanted to study, so I chose SFC for its wide range of options.

After enrolling, I took as many interesting classes as possible to decide on a major. Having learned piano since childhood, I was particularly drawn to a class called "Music and the Brain." Before taking the course, I had the impression that "brain science and neuroscience" required specialized knowledge in the medical sciences. However, the entry point of "music" was a perfect fit for me. I was able to learn with great interest, relating the material to my own experiences, such as the connection between the brain and the complex finger movements involved in playing the piano.

This class sparked further interests, and in the spring of my second year, I joined the Junichi Ushiyama Research Group to study neuroscience. However, even after deciding on my specialty, my curiosity in various fields never waned. I think I was quite unusual, even commuting to Hiyoshi Campus to take classes in political science, economics, psychology, philosophy, and space science.

In the Ushiyama Lab, I first learned how to conduct experiments and perform analysis through tutorials based on assignments from the professor. Six months later, I began my own research in earnest. When I started my individual research, I felt like I had been cast out into the open sea. I had no idea what to choose as a topic and was at a complete loss. Since I had no exposure to neuroscience before entering university, I was in a desperate state, not knowing what had been discovered and what remained unsolved in the field, nor how to even begin investigating it.

After much struggle and exploration, I decided on the topic "The Effect of Synchrony Between Brain Regions on Reaction Time." As I proceeded, uncertain whether I could turn it into valuable research, I discovered a very interesting phenomenon, which instantly ignited my passion for the project. After a year of work, the research took shape, and I was able to present it at an academic conference. I was nervous as it was my first time, but I remember being very happy when other researchers approached me. It was a truly valuable experience.

However, after the conference presentation, it was discovered that some of the EEG data used in the research contained noise. EEG data is highly susceptible to noise, and although I had been meticulous and diligent in my measurements and analysis, some unfilterable noise remained. Therefore, with great regret, I had no choice but to discontinue the research.

For a while, I was deeply discouraged. Being able to present at a conference and, above all, discovering an interesting phenomenon had given me confidence in my research, but now I felt like I was back at square one. I felt a sense of panic, thinking, "I haven't accomplished anything yet." But with advice from senior students and my professor, I decided to change my research topic. Currently, I am conducting research on the theme of "Reaction Mechanisms Dependent on EEG Phase." I believe I was able to make this decision thanks to the time I had left—more than a year until graduation.

Furthermore, I turned my previous experience into a learning opportunity. I identified the cause of the noise, created a program to eliminate it, and successfully resolved the issue.

Halting the research was a shock, but it ultimately allowed me to improve my technical skills and approach my work with even greater motivation. I see this as significant personal progress.

In parallel with my university research, I am working as a Junior Researcher at SandBox Inc. The company's business involves supporting companies and industry groups like the Applied Brain Science Consortium by improving the profitability of existing businesses and creating new businesses related to human sensibility, all based on cutting-edge, highly reproducible science. My role is to help achieve client objectives by conducting brain data, survey, and behavioral experiments using optimal protocols, referencing prior highly reproducible research. I then visualize and quantify the resulting data and provide end-to-end support until the client can internalize the process. The work is similar to what I do in my university research, but unlike individual research, my tasks directly impact the business, so I approach my work with a greater sense of tension and responsibility.

Through this work, I also realized that the field of brain science can contribute to society in various ways, which has opened my eyes to new possibilities for my own research.

I used to find it painful when I couldn't find an answer that satisfied me, and I struggled with thinking and verbalizing my thoughts. However, after joining the research lab, I learned that I couldn't succeed just by being myself. This is because research is a process of continuous thinking. You must constantly think: "What is valuable research?" "What does this observed phenomenon mean?" "What kind of change can this research bring to society?" And those days when I struggled with noise were a great opportunity for me to train my ability to think. I feel that I am growing, little by little, through my research. Now, I am at a crucial point in deciding my future path. It is a time of great "indecision," you could say. But having learned the importance of thinking, I want to continue to think deeply, even if it is a struggle. Similarly, if there are any high school students currently struggling with their future paths, I want to tell them that being lost and worried is also a valuable experience, and that there is no need to blame yourself just because you can't find an answer.