On April 21st, 2026, 11 students and 2 teacher from Princess Chulabhorn Science High School Chiang Rai, and 4 teachers from Tokyo Gakugei University Senior High School, visited IRCN.

First, Associate Professor Zenas Chao briefly explained about IRCN with focus on IRCN's position as one of the centers of the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) and the IRCN-organized “IRCN Neuro-inspired Computation Summer Course”. After concise introduction of Chao Laboratory, 2 groups (Team vivo/Team Vitro) of researchers from his lab gave interactive lectures and demonstrations.

Team Vivo

“At what moment is your brain the most creative? ”

(by Drs Yi-Yuan Huan, John Kyle Cooper, and Chatrin Phunruangsakao)
First, students tried Alternative Uses Test, compared human-evaluated and AI-evaluated results of their answers, and discussed what creativity is and how it can be measured. Next, electroencephalography was performed in students to demonstrate real-time calculation of a creativity index from brain activities. Then, various devices measuring brain activities were displayed for students to play with, followed by a lively question and answer session in a relaxed atmosphere.

Team Vitro

“How your brain predicts the world: an introduction to predictive coding”

(By Dr Amit Yaron and Sali Abudoureheman)
First, students saw images and videos to get firsthand experience how we see and hear is influenced by prediction, and learned about prediction errors and predictive coding. Next, they learned about experiments using cultured neurons (e.g., predictive coding in cultured neurons, and robots controlled by cultured neurons). Then, they participated in a fun demonstration to witness the visualization of activities of cultured neurons*.
*We thank Dr Dai Akita, Assistant Professor (Graduate School of Information Science and Technology)

Throughout the program, students actively explored and expressed their own ideas about brain function. We hope this visit deepened their interest in neuroscience and provided meaningful inspiration and learning opportunities.


For Your Reference
▶Zenas Chao, IRCN Associate Professor: https://ircn.jp/en/mission/people/zenas-c-chao