How do human and machine intelligence arise? The International Research Center for Neurointelligence (IRCN) at The University of Tokyo was launched in October 2017 to tackle this challenge over the next ten years under the World Premier International (WPI) Research Initiative of Japan. IRCN researchers will understand emergent principles of neural circuit development to inspire next-generation neural computation for artificial intelligence and novel therapies for mental illness.
January 29, 2026
At the International Research Center for Neurointelligence (IRCN), we promote interdisciplinary Team Science with the aim of elucidating the principles underlying the emergence of human intelligence and developing innovative artificial intelligence technologies grounded in these insights.
Within the Team Science “Social Learning,” we seek to clarify the mechanisms by which infants acquire intelligence through social interactions with others, using cognitive psychology experiments and computational modeling studies. For further details, please refer to the activities of the related research laboratories.
- Cognitive developmental robotics lab (Nagai lab): https://developmental-robotics.jp/en/
- Baby lab: https://babylab.ircn.jp/en/
We are currently recruiting a researcher (Project Researcher) to participate in this project. Researchers with an interest in interdisciplinary collaborative research are strongly encouraged to apply.
January 19, 2026
Yukie Nagai lab at IRCN investigates the mechanisms underlying human cognitive development and disorders through computational approaches. We develop computational neural networks inspired by the human brain and examine what mechanisms enable the networks to acquire human-like intelligence. For more information, please visit our lab homepage at https://developmental-robotics.jp/en/.
We are currently seeking researchers (Project Research Associates or Project Researchers) to participate in the following projects:
(a) CREST “Cognitive Feelings that Mediate Between Perception and Emotion” (PI: Yukie Nagai, Period: Oct 2021 - Mar 2027)
(b) Moonshot “Development of ”Jizai Hon-yaku-ki (At-will Translator)” connecting various minds based on brain and body functions” (PI: Kenichiro Tsutsui, Period: Sep 2022 - Mar 2027)
