Nakaakira Tsukahara (November 11, 1933 - August 12, 1985) was a Japanese doctor, cerebral physiologist, and neurologist who served as professor at the Faculty of Engineering Science at Osaka University.

Nakaaki Tsukahara
塚原仲晃
Born(1933-11-11)November 11, 1933
DiedAugust 12, 1985(1985-08-12) (aged 51)
NationalityJapanese
CitizenshipJapanese
Alma materUniversity of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine
Scientific career
FieldsCerebral physiology
InstitutionsOsaka University

External links edit

Tsukahara was born in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture. He graduated from the University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 1963 receiving his Doctor of Medicine. He wrote a doctoral thesis titled: "A contribution of internuncial activity to motoneuronal discharges.''[1]

He became a professor at Osaka University at 36 years old. Tsukahara was also one of Japan's leading neurologists at the time.

Tsukahara was in charge of "Brain Plasticity,'' a Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture and Technology-specific research project which was scheduled to begin in 1986. In 1985 he traveled to Tokyo to have a meeting with the Ministry regarding the research. On August 12, Tsukahara was killed in the crash of Japan Air Lines Flight 123 at the age of 51.[2]

Legacy edit

The Nakaaki Tsukahara Memorial Award was established by the Brain Science Promotion Foundation to commemorate Tsukahara's research achievements.[3]

Bibliography edit

  • 脳の可塑性と記憶 [Brain plasticity and memory] (in Japanese). Books Kinokuniya. 1987. ISBN 4314004916. (Republished in Iwanami Gendai Bunko.)

References edit

  1. ^ Doctoral Dissertation Bibliography Database
  2. ^ "シナプスは移動する:御巣鷹山に消えた神経科学者、塚原仲晃、可塑性" [Synapses move: Nakaaki Tsukahara, the neuroscientist who disappeared on Mt. Osutaka, plasticity]. web2.chubu-gu.ac.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  3. ^ "ブレインサイエンス振興財団 - 塚原仲晃記念賞" [Brain Science Promotion Foundation - Nakaaki Tsukahara Memorial Award]. www.bs-f.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-01-29.