Preface

Message for the 13th President of ISLIS

Abstract

This time, I have been appointed the 13th President of the International Society for Life Information Science (ISLIS). ISLIS was established in 1995 to promote scientific research on life information and establish international exchange partnerships, and to elucidate unknown phenomena in areas involving consciousness, mind and brain based on scientific demonstrations. Currently, the society has information centers in 11 countries around the world, and a large number of members belong to more than 15 countries. I graduated from Nippon Medical School in 1984 and entered the department of psychiatry at the university. Under the direction of the late professor Shunkichi Endo, I belonged to the EEG group and was mainly engaged in the studies of EEG analysis for mood disorder patients. I also deepened the exchange through EEG research with Dr. Kimiko Kawano who is now the Vice-President of ISLIS, and joined ISLIS with the late Professor Endo. At that time, Ms. Kawano was studying physiopathology by EEG analysis such as qigong, meditation, aroma, hypnosis, etc. that had not been scientifically sufficiently elucidated. We also conducted EEG research on aroma or hypnosis as an area of research in our department of psychiatry. Then I studied for about one year in psychiatry at the University of Iowa from 1999 and engaged in research on affective or cognitive disorders after stroke with Professor Robinson. After returning to Japan, I have been in the current position since 2013, after being director and associate professor at the Department of Mental Health, Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital since 2003. 　Psychiatry is an area that deals with the human "mind". In order to understand the phenomena of the mind, it is also necessary to deepen the understanding of the "brain" function. At the same time, the holistic approach is emphasized, such as the psycho-social background, including their values and lifestyle. 　When I was appointed the chairman of ISLIS, I was asked by Dr. Mikio Yamamoto, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of ISLIS, to set up a medical division. There are many leading experts in various fields in ISLIS, and they are conducting research using various methods. In order to elucidate unknown phenomena, it is necessary to establish high-quality research design by bringing together the wisdom of both the medical field and various scientific fields. By accumulating research results one by one, I would like to do my best to create an environment that can perform empirical research with a higher level of evidence than ever before. I sincerely ask for the understanding and cooperation of all the member of ISLIS.