Citation | Ito transformed our understanding of the cerebellar functions by two fundamental discoveries that are uniquely his. 1.The sole output from the cerebellar cortex is via Purkyne cells and he showed that these cells inhibit the cerebellar nuclear cells, which are the sole output cells from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain, This finding provides an extraordinary exception to the otherwise standard design of the brain, namely, that all outputs from brain regions are excitatory. 2.He followed this up by his discovery that conjunction of the two excitatory inputs to cerebellar Purkyne cells, by climbing fibres and by parallel fibres causes a unique long-term depression (LTD) of the parallel fibre synapses. Evidence suggested that LTD is basically due to desensitisation of glutamate receptors on Purkyne cells. Recently further analysis of the molecular mechanisms of the desensitisation revealed an underlying chain of reactions involving metabotropic glutamate receptors, calcium ions, nitric oxide, cGMP and protein kinase G, eventually leading to a long-lasting desensitisation of ionotropic quisqualate-specific subtype of glutamate receptors. This is the basis of cerebellar learning. Ito made a third important advance by establishing the control system model of the cerebellum that is based on the flocculus control of the vestibulo-ocular reflexes. Furthermore he showed that the control system would explain cerebellar function in the control of all movements of body and limbs so that they can become perfected by means of its error correcting system. Ito has contributed greatly to neuroscience in Japan, and has been a leader in establishing and developing new projects for Japanese science, that collectively are known as the Frontier Research Program, of which he is Team Leader. Ito is dedicated to International Cooperation in the Brain Sciences, in the International Brain Research Organization IBRO, President, 1980-1986. In the International Union of Physiological Sciences - IUPS_ he has been a Council member (1982 - present) and vice-president (1986-present). In the International Council of Scientific Unions -ICSU- he is a Council Board Member, 1986 to present. Awards: 1986 - Imperial Prize of Japan Academy; 1986 - Academy Prize Japan; 1989 Member of Japan Academy. 1990 - Foreign Member of Royal Swedish Academy of Science |