Reduction of converging distance change in an aquatic display formed with aerial imaging by retro-reflection in conjugated optical structure.

This paper proposes an optical system for aquatic display that shows an image in water. The aquatic image is formed by utilizing aerial imaging by retro-reflection, which converges light by a retro-reflector and a beam splitter. Refraction on intersection between air and another material causes spherical aberration, which changes light-converging distance. In order to reduce the converging distance change, the light-source component is filled with water so that the optical system becomes conjugate including the medium. We analyzed converging of light in water by simulations. Furthermore, we have confirmed effectiveness of conjugated optical structure experimentally by use of a prototype.

Dynamics of Laterality in the Cuttlefish Sepia recurvirostra through Interactions with Prey Prawns.

Predator-prey interactions based on laterality have recently been observed between fishes and their prey populations. Maintenance of antisymmetric dimorphism by frequency-dependent selection has been reported in fish, but has not been observed in invertebrates. Over 10 years, we investigated long-term changes in the "ratio of laterality" (frequency of righty morphs in a population) in the cuttlefish Sepia recurvirostra and its potential prey prawns Penaeus semisulcatus and Metapenaeus endeavouri in the Visayan Sea, the Philippines. The morphological laterality of cuttlefish and prey prawns was defined by measuring the asymmetry of the cuttlebone and carapace, respectively. Cuttlefish and prey prawns showed morphological antisymmetry, being composed with righty morphs and lefty morphs. The ratio of laterality of cuttlefish and one prey prawn oscillated significantly, but the oscillation was not strongly synchronized. The ratio of laterality of cuttlefish followed that of the prey prawn, indicating that predation biased to each laterality occurred in relation to their laterality. These results suggest that the lateral dimorphism of cuttlefish is maintained through frequency-dependent selection on lateral morphs of the predator cuttlefish and prey prawns. Our findings provide new insight into the ecological significance and antisymmetry maintenance mechanism in relation to interspecific interactions in marine invertebrates.

Dynamics of Laterality in Relation to the Predator-Prey Interaction between the Piscivorous Chub "Hasu" and Its Prey "Ayu" in Lake Biwa.

A Japanese piscivorous chub, "hasu" (Opsariichthys uncirostris), and its main prey, "ayu" (Plecoglossus altivelis), both have laterally asymmetric bodies, similar to other fishes; each population consists of righty morphs and lefty morphs. This antisymmetric dimorphism has a genetic basis. Temporal changes in the ratios of laterality (i.e., frequency of righty morphs in a population) of these predator and prey fish species were investigated for a 20-year period at a pelagic site in the southwestern area of Lake Biwa, Japan. The dimorphism of each species was maintained dynamically throughout the period, and the ratio of laterality was found to change periodically in a semi-synchronized manner. Direct inspection of the relationship between the ratios of laterality of the two species indicated that the ratio of ayu followed that of hasu, suggesting that the predator-prey interaction was responsible for the semi-synchronized change. Stomach contents analysis of each hasu revealed that cross-predation, in which righty predators catch lefty prey and lefty predators catch righty prey, occurred more frequently than the reverse combination (parallel-predation). This differential predation is presumed to cause frequency-dependent selection on the two morphs of the predator and prey, and to drive semi-synchronized changes in the laterality of the two species. Some discussion pertaining to the atypical form of the semi-synchronized change in laterality found in this study is presented from the viewpoint of predator-prey interaction in fishes.

Triple-views aerial display to show different floating images for surrounding directions.

To realize a triple-views aerial image floating in the center of the passages that can be displayed in front of an user and passed through, we propose a novel display device using aerial imaging with retro-reflection with polarization. We confirmed that our device can form aerial images in the center of the intersection of three passages and can display different contents to users in each passage without using the material as screen.

Genetic consequences of being a dwarf: do evolutionary changes in life-history traits influence gene flow patterns in populations of the world's smallest goldenrod?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Contrasting life-history traits can evolve through generations of dwarf plant ecotypes, yet such phenotypic changes often involve decreased plant size and reproductive allocation, which can configure seed dispersal patterns and, subsequently, population demography. Therefore, evolutionary transitions to dwarfism can represent good study systems to test the roles of life-history traits in population demography by comparing genetic structure between related but phenotypically divergent ecotypes. METHODS: In this study, we examined an ecotypic taxon pair of the world's smallest goldenrod (stem height 2.6 cm) in alpine habitats and its closely related lowland taxon (30-40 cm) found on Yakushima Island, Japan. Genetic variation in chloroplast DNA sequences, nuclear microsatellites and genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms were used to investigate 197 samples from 16 populations, to infer the population genetic demography and compare local genetic structure of the ecotypes. KEY RESULTS: We found a pronounced level of genetic differentiation among alpine dwarf populations, which were much less geographically isolated than their lowland counterparts. In particular, several neighbouring dwarf populations (located ~500 m apart) harboured completely different sets of chloroplast haplotypes and nuclear genetic clusters. Demographic modelling revealed that the dwarf populations have not exchanged genes at significant levels after population divergence. CONCLUSIONS: These lines of evidence suggest that substantial effects of genetic drift have operated on these dwarf populations. The low-growing stature and reduced fecundity (only 3.1 heads per plant) of the dwarf plants may have reduced gene flow and rare long-distance seed dispersal among habitat patches, although the effects of life-history traits require further evaluation using ecological approaches.

Radiation history of Asian Asarum (sect. Heterotropa, Aristolochiaceae) resolved using a phylogenomic approach based on double-digested RAD-seq data.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The genus Asarum sect. Heterotropa (Aristolochiaceae) probably experienced rapid diversification into 62 species centred on the Japanese Archipelago and Taiwan, providing an ideal model for studying island adaptive radiation. However, resolving the phylogeny of this plant group using Sanger sequencing-based approaches has been challenging. To uncover the radiation history of Heterotropa, we employed a phylogenomic approach using double-digested RAD-seq (ddRAD-seq) to yield a sufficient number of phylogenetic signals and compared its utility with that of the Sanger sequencing-based approach. METHODS: We first compared the performance of phylogenetic analysis based on the plastid matK and trnL-F regions and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS), and phylogenomic analysis based on ddRAD-seq using a reduced set of the plant materials (83 plant accessions consisting of 50 species, one subspecies and six varieties). We also conducted more thorough phylogenomic analyses including the reconstruction of biogeographic history using comprehensive samples of 135 plant accessions consisting of 54 species, one subspecies, nine varieties of Heterotropa and six outgroup species. KEY RESULTS: Phylogenomic analyses of Heterotropa based on ddRAD-seq were superior to Sanger sequencing-based approaches and resulted in a fully resolved phylogenetic tree with strong support for 72.0-84.8 % (depending on the tree reconstruction methods) of the branches. We clarified the history of Heterotropa radiation and found that A. forbesii, the only deciduous Heterotropa species native to mainland China, is sister to the evergreen species (core Heterotropa) mostly distributed across the Japanese Archipelago and Taiwan. CONCLUSIONS: The core Heterotropa group was divided into nine subclades, each of which had a narrow geographic distribution. Moreover, most estimated dispersal events (22 out of 24) were between adjacent areas, indicating that the range expansion has been geographically restricted throughout the radiation history. The findings enhance our understanding of the remarkable diversification of plant lineages in the Japanese Archipelago and Taiwan.

Mutation in the putative ketoacyl-ACP reductase CaKR1 induces loss of pungency in Capsicum.

KEY MESSAGE: A putative ketoacyl-ACP reductase (CaKR1) that was not previously known to be associated with pungency of Capsicum was identified from map-based cloning and functional characterization. The pungency of chili pepper fruits is due to the presence of capsaicinoids, which are synthesized through the convergence of the phenylpropanoid and branched-chain fatty acid pathways. The extensive, global use of pungent and non-pungent peppers underlines the importance of understanding the genetic mechanism underlying capsaicinoid biosynthesis for breeding pepper cultivars. Although Capsicum is one of the earliest domesticated plant genera, the only reported genetic causes of its loss of pungency are mutations in acyltransferase (Pun1) and putative aminotransferase (pAMT). In this study, a single recessive gene responsible for the non-pungency of pepper No.3341 (C. chinense) was identified on chromosome 10 using an F2 population derived from a cross between Habanero and No.3341. Five candidate genes were identified in the target region, within a distance of 220 kb. A candidate gene, a putative ketoacyl-ACP reductase (CaKR1), of No.3341 had an insertion of a 4.5-kb transposable element (TE) sequence in the first intron, resulting in the production of a truncated transcript missing the region coding the catalytic domain. Virus-induced gene silencing of CaKR1 in pungent peppers resulted in the decreased accumulation of capsaicinoids, a phenotype consistent with No.3341. Moreover, GC-MS analysis of 8-methyl-6-nonenoic acid, which is predicted to be synthesized during the elongation cycle of branched-chain fatty acid biosynthesis, revealed that its deficiency in No.3341. Genetic, genomic, transcriptional, silencing, and biochemical precursor analyses performed in combination provide a solid ground for the conclusion that CaKR1 is involved in capsaicinoid biosynthesis and that its disruption results in a loss of pungency.

Does genomic variation in a foundation species predict arthropod community structure in a riparian forest?

Understanding how genetic variation within a foundation species determines the structure of associated communities and ecosystem processes has been an emerging frontier in ecology. Previous studies in common gardens identified close links between intraspecific variation and multispecies community structure, and these findings are now being evaluated directly in the complex natural ecosystem. In this study, we examined to what extent genomic variation in a foundation tree species explains the structure of associated arthropod communities in the field, comparing with spatial, temporal and environmental factors. In a continuous mixed forest, arthropods were surveyed on 85 mature alders (Alnus hirsuta) in 2 years. Moreover, we estimated Nei's genetic distance among the alders based on 1,077 single nucleotide polymorphisms obtained from restricted-site-associated DNA sequencing of the alders' genome. In both years, we detected significant correlations between genetic distance and dissimilarity of arthropod communities. A generalized dissimilarity modelling indicated that the genetic distance of alder populations was the most important predictor to explain the variance of arthropod communities. Among arthropod functional groups, carnivores were consistently correlated with genetic distance of the foundation species in both years. Furthermore, the extent of year-to-year changes in arthropod communities was more similar between more genetically closed alder populations. This study demonstrates that the genetic similarity rule would be primarily prominent in community assembly of plant-associated arthropods under temporally and spatially variable environments in the field.

Phylogeographic analysis of the East Asian goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea complex, Asteraceae) reveals hidden ecological diversification with recurrent formation of ecotypes.

Background and Aims: The processes and mechanisms underlying lineage diversification are major topics in evolutionary biology. Eurasian goldenrod species of the Solidago virgaurea complex show remarkable morphological and ecological diversity in the Japanese Archipelago, with ecotypic taxa well adapted to specific environments (climate, edaphic conditions and disturbance regimes). The species complex is a suitable model to investigate the evolutionary processes of actively speciating plant groups, due to its ability to evolve in relation to environmental adaptation and its historical population dynamics. Methods: Two chloroplast markers, 18 nuclear microsatellite markers and ddRAD-sequencing were used to infer population genetic demography of S. virgaurea complex with its related species/genera. Key Results: Our analysis showed that populations in Japan form an evolutionary unit, which was genetically diverged from adjacent continental populations. The phylogenetic structure within the archipelago strongly corresponds to the geography, but interestingly there is no concordance between genetic structure and ecotypic boundaries; neighbouring populations of distinct ecotypes share a genetic background. Conclusions: We propose that the traits specific to the ecotypic entities are maintained by natural selection or are very recently generated and have little effect on the genomes, making genome-wide genetic markers unsuitable for detecting ecotypic differentiation. Furthermore, some sporadically distributed taxa (found as rheophytes and alpine plants) were repeatedly generated from a more widespread taxon in geographically distant areas by means of selection. Overall, this study showed that the goldenrod complex has a high ability to evolve, enabling rapid ecological diversification over a recent timeframe.

Simultaneous evaluation of the effects of geographic, environmental and temporal isolation in ecotypic populations of Solidago virgaurea.

Early stages of ecological speciation can create populations with an ecology and reproduction timing distinct from those of related populations. Landscape genetic models incorporating environmental heterogeneity and population-specific reproductive traits enable the processes of population genetic differentiation to be inferred. We investigated genome-wide genetic variation in ecotypic populations of Solidago virgaurea sensu lato, a herbaceous plant inhabiting a wide range of habitats (woodlands, serpentine barrens and alpine grasslands) and displaying remarkable variation in flowering time. Simultaneous evaluation of environmental factors revealed an overwhelming effect of soil type differences on neutral genetic differentiation, compared with elevational differences. This result probably reflects the abrupt environmental changes generated by geological boundaries, whereas mountain slopes exhibit clinal changes, facilitating gene exchange between neighbouring populations. Temporal isolation was positively associated with genetic differentiation, with some early-flowering serpentine populations having allele frequencies distinct from adjacent nonserpentine populations. Overall, this study highlights the importance of ecological processes and of evolution of flowering time to promote genetic differentiation of S. virgaurea populations in a complex landscape.

Laterality is Universal Among Fishes but Increasingly Cryptic Among Derived Groups.

Laterality has been studied in several vertebrates, mainly in terms of brain lateralization and behavioral laterality, but morphological asymmetry has not been extensively investigated. Asymmetry in fishes was first described in scale-eating cichlids from Lake Tanganyika, in the form of bilateral dimorphism in which some individuals, when opening their mouths, twist them to the right and others to the left. This asymmetry has a genetic basis, and is correlated with lateralized attack behaviors. This has subsequently been found in fishes from numerous taxa with various feeding habits. The generality of such morphological laterality should thus be investigated in as wide a range of fishes as possible. Using specific indicators of lateral differences in mandibles and head inclination, we find that representative species from all 60 orders of extant gnathostome fishes (both bony and cartilaginous) possess morphological laterality. Furthermore, we identify the same laterality in agnathans (hagfish and lamprey), suggesting that this trait appeared early in fish evolution and has been maintained across fish lineages. However, a comparison of asymmetry among groups of bony fishes reveals, unexpectedly, that phylogenetically more recent-groups possess less asymmetry in body structures. The universality of laterality in fishes indicates a monophyletic origin, and may have been present in the ancestors of vertebrates. Ecological factors, predator-prey interactions in particular, may be key drivers in the evolution and maintenance of dimorphism, and may also be responsible for the cryptic trend of asymmetry in derived groups. Because lungfish and coelacanths share this trait, it is likely that tetrapods also inherited it. We believe that study of this morphological laterality will provide insights into the behavioral and sensory lateralization of vertebrates.

A GLABRA1 ortholog on LG A9 controls trichome number in the Japanese leafy vegetables Mizuna and Mibuna (Brassica rapa L. subsp. nipposinica L. H. Bailey): evidence from QTL analysis.

Brassica rapa show a wide range of morphological variations. In particular, the leaf morphologies of the Japanese traditional leafy vegetables Mizuna and Mibuna (Brassica rapa L. subsp. nipposinica L. H. Bailey) are distinctly different, even though they are closely related cultivars that are easy to cross. In addition to the differences in the gross morphology of leaves, some cultivars of Mibuna (Kyo-nishiki) have many trichomes on its leaves, whereas Mizuna (Kyo-mizore) does not. To identify the genes responsible for the different number of trichomes, we performed a quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of Mizuna and Mibuna. To construct linkage maps for these cultivars, we used RNA-seq data to develop cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers. We also performed a restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) analysis to detect single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Two QTL analyses were performed in different years, and both analyses indicated that the largest effect was found on LG A9. Expression analyses showed that a gene homologous to GLABRA1 (GL1), a transcription factor implicated in trichome development in Arabidopsis thaliana, and the sequences 3'-flanking (downstream) of BrGL1, differed considerably between Mizuna (Kyo-mizore) and Mibuna (Kyo-nishiki). These results indicate that BrGL1 on LG A9 is one of the candidate genes responsible for the difference in trichome number between Mizuna and Mibuna. Detecting genes that are responsible for morphological variations allows us to better understand the breeding history of Mizuna and Mibuna.

Evolutionary differentiation of androgen receptor is responsible for sexual characteristic development in a teleost fish.

Teleost fishes exhibit complex sexual characteristics in response to androgens, such as fin enlargement and courtship display. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their evolutionary acquisition remain largely unknown. To address this question, we analyse medaka (Oryzias latipes) mutants deficient in teleost-specific androgen receptor ohnologs (ara and arb). We discovered that neither ar ohnolog was required for spermatogenesis, whilst they appear to be functionally redundant for the courtship display in males. However, both were required for reproductive success: ara for tooth enlargement and the reproductive behaviour eliciting female receptivity, arb for male-specific fin morphogenesis and sexual motivation. We further showed that differences between the two ar ohnologs in their transcription, cellular localisation of their encoded proteins, and their downstream genetic programmes could be responsible for the phenotypic diversity between the ara and arb mutants. These findings suggest that the ar ohnologs have diverged in two ways: first, through the loss of their roles in spermatogenesis and second, through gene duplication followed by functional differentiation that has likely resolved the pleiotropic roles derived from their ancestral gene. Thus, our results provide insights into how genome duplication impacts the massive diversification of sexual characteristics in the teleost lineage.

Lateralized behavior in the attacks of largemouth bass on Rhinogobius gobies corresponding to their morphological antisymmetry.

Vertebrates show left-right biases in turning direction, limb usage, predator-escape response and use of sensory organs. In particular, some fishes are known to have lateral biases in predatory behaviors corresponding to their morphological antisymmetry. To reveal the effects of these laterally biased behaviors on predator-prey interaction, we conducted behavioral tests of predatory events between largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, and freshwater gobies, Rhinogobius sp., both of which have individuals with a well-developed left side and individuals with a well-developed right side. The left-developed bass tended to approach the goby clockwise from behind, whereas right-developed individuals tended to approach counterclockwise. Congruently, left-developed gobies began their escape maneuvers at a longer distance from bass when they were approached clockwise than when they were approached counterclockwise, whereas right-developed gobies showed the reverse tendency. The longer the distance between bass and gobies at the start of goby escape, the more the subsequent bass strike or dash was delayed. Under these conditions, predation should be more successful when a left (right)-developed bass meets a right (left)-developed goby, and less successful when a left (right)-developed bass meets a left (right)-developed goby. This prediction was consistent with the difference in predation success in our test and in field data from Lake Biwa, Japan. We conclude that lateral biases in the behavioral direction of each morphological type will generate bias in predation success between different combinations of predator and prey types, leading to the maintenance of antisymmetric dimorphism through negative frequency-dependent natural selection.

Laterally biased diffusion of males of the water flea Daphnia magna.

The water flea, Daphnia magna, is a representative zooplankton that lives in freshwater environments. It primarily propagates via asexual reproduction in normal and healthy environmental conditions. Unsuitable environmental conditions induce D. magna to change its mode of reproduction from asexual to sexual reproduction. During sexual reproduction, D. magna produces special tough eggs (resting eggs) that can survive severe environmental conditions. Despite an increase in our understanding of their mating behavior, the sex-specific characteristics of swimming behavior among daphnid species are poorly understood. In this study, we analysed the swimming patterns and dynamics of female and male adult D. magna using computer modeling. Males displayed laterally biased diffusion in contrast to the homogeneous, nondirectional diffusion of females. Computer modeling analysis using a discrete-time Markov chain simulation, in which the frequencies of turning behavior were evaluated as probability distributions, explained the greater diffusion of males in the horizontal direction. We presumed that high diffusion in the horizontal direction would increase the probability of encountering a distant mate. Our findings suggest that male D. magna increases genotypic heterogeneity by effectively selecting certain motion parameters.

Predominance of cross-predation between lateral morphs in a largemouth bass and a freshwater goby.

The predator-prey relationship between largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, and freshwater goby, Rhinogobius spp., in Lake Biwa, Japan, was examined with respect to their morphological antisymmetry (laterality). Largemouth bass and Rhinogobius gobies exhibited lateral dimorphism in the height of the mandible and the length of the dentary, respectively. Populations of both species were composed of both left-developed and right-developed individuals. Each predation event was categorized as either cross-predation (a predator caught prey of the opposite morph) or parallel-predation (a predator caught prey of the same morph). Stomach contents analysis revealed that cross-predation events predominated over parallel-predation. Annual sampling for eight years demonstrated that in both largemouth bass and Rhinogobius gobies, the ratio of right-developed individuals in the population fluctuated temporally around 0.5. As the predominance of cross-predation was found in the relationship between the exotic largemouth bass and an endemic goby, the predominance may be caused by a kinematical interplay at each predation event.

Combination of genetic analysis and ancient literature survey reveals the divergence of traditional Brassica rapa varieties from Kyoto, Japan.

Since ancient times, humans have bred several plants that we rely on today. However, little is known about the divergence of most of these plants. In the present study, we investigated the divergence of Mibuna (Brassica rapa L. subsp. nipposinica L. H. Bailey), a traditional leafy vegetable in Kyoto (Japan), by combining genetic analysis and a survey of ancient literature. Mibuna is considered to have been bred 200 years ago from Mizuna, another traditional leafy vegetable in Kyoto. Mibuna has simple spatulate leaves, whereas Mizuna has characteristic serrated leaves. The quantitative trait loci (QTL) and gene expression analyses suggested that the downregulation of BrTCP15 expression contributed to the change in the leaf shape from serrated to simple spatulate. Interestingly, the SNP analysis indicated that the genomic region containing the BrTCP15 locus was transferred to Mibuna by introgression. Furthermore, we conducted a survey of ancient literature to reveal the divergence of Mibuna and found that hybridization between Mizuna and a simple-leaved turnip might have occurred in the past. Indeed, the genomic analysis of multiple turnip cultivars showed that one of the cultivars, Murasakihime, has almost the same sequence in the BrTCP15 region as Mibuna. These results suggest that the hybridization between Mizuna and turnip has resulted in the establishment of Mibuna.

Genetic analysis of body weight in wild populations of medaka fish from different latitudes.

The genetic bases of growth and body weight are of economic and scientific interest, and teleost fish models have proven useful in such investigations. The Oryzias latipes species complex (medaka) is an abundant freshwater fish in Japan and suitable for genetic studies. We compared two wild medaka stocks originating from different latitudes. The Maizuru population from higher latitudes weighed more than the Ginoza population. We investigated the genetic basis of body weight, using quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of the F2 offspring of these populations. We detected one statistically significant QTL for body weight on medaka chromosome 4 and identified 12 candidate genes that might be associated with body weight or growth. Nine of these 12 genes had at least one single nucleotide polymorphism that caused amino acid substitutions in protein-coding regions, and we estimated the effects of these substitutions. The present findings might contribute to the marker-assisted selection of economically important aquaculture species.

Genet assignment and population structure analysis in a clonal forest-floor herb, Cardamine leucantha, using RAD-seq.

To study the genetic structure of clonal plant populations, genotyping and genet detection using genetic markers are necessary to assign ramets to corresponding genets. Assignment is difficult as it involves setting a robust threshold of genetic distance for genet distinction as neighbouring genets in a plant population are often genetically related. Here, we used restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) for a rhizomatous clonal herb, Cardamine leucantha [Brassicaceae] to accurately determine genet structure in a natural population. We determined a draft genome sequence of this species for the first time, which resulted in 66 617 scaffolds with N50 = 6086 bp and an estimated genome size of approximately 253 Mbp. Using genetic distances based on the RAD-seq analysis, we successfully distinguished ramets that belonged to distinct genets even from a half-sib family. We applied these methods to 372 samples of C. leucantha collected at 1-m interval grids within a 20 × 20 m plot in a natural population in Hokkaido, Japan. From these samples, we identified 61 genets with high inequality in terms of genet size and patchy distribution. Spatial autocorrelation analyses indicated significant aggregation within 7 and 4 m at ramet and genet levels, respectively. An analysis of parallel DNA microsatellite loci (simple sequence repeats) suggested that RAD-seq can provide data that allows robust genet assignment. It remains unclear whether the large genets identified here became dominant stochastically or deterministically. Precise identification of genets will assist further study and characterization of dominant genets.

Illusory Motion Reproduced by Deep Neural Networks Trained for Prediction.

The cerebral cortex predicts visual motion to adapt human behavior to surrounding objects moving in real time. Although the underlying mechanisms are still unknown, predictive coding is one of the leading theories. Predictive coding assumes that the brain's internal models (which are acquired through learning) predict the visual world at all times and that errors between the prediction and the actual sensory input further refine the internal models. In the past year, deep neural networks based on predictive coding were reported for a video prediction machine called PredNet. If the theory substantially reproduces the visual information processing of the cerebral cortex, then PredNet can be expected to represent the human visual perception of motion. In this study, PredNet was trained with natural scene videos of the self-motion of the viewer, and the motion prediction ability of the obtained computer model was verified using unlearned videos. We found that the computer model accurately predicted the magnitude and direction of motion of a rotating propeller in unlearned videos. Surprisingly, it also represented the rotational motion for illusion images that were not moving physically, much like human visual perception. While the trained network accurately reproduced the direction of illusory rotation, it did not detect motion components in negative control pictures wherein people do not perceive illusory motion. This research supports the exciting idea that the mechanism assumed by the predictive coding theory is one of basis of motion illusion generation. Using sensory illusions as indicators of human perception, deep neural networks are expected to contribute significantly to the development of brain research.