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Ph.D.
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My research concentrates on two topics. In the first I investigate the odors underlying individual identity and health status in mice and humans. I examine mouse olfactory-guided behavior. In the metabolomics approach, odorants are analyzed with solid-phase-microextraction, followed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (SPME/GC/MS). These high-dimensional GC/MS data are further explored with computational tools including multivariate analyses, neural networks, and the support vector machine. My second research area involves description of the neural circuit dynamics that mediate animal cognitive functions. I am conducting parallel behavioral and physiological experiments in mice that are trained to perform olfactory psychophysical tasks. Here, I am exploring the linkage between an animal’s internal state (indexed by physiological parameters) and its output (behavior). This research will lead to increased understanding of neural mechanism underlying animal decision making. |
Koichi Matsumura