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Physiology統合機能生理学講座

Staffs

  • Associate professor: Masaharu Kinoshita
  • Assistant professor: Katsuhiro Nagatomo

Outline

 Our department consists of 2 research units: (1) Unit for System Neurophysiology (Kinoshita) and (2) Unit for Neuro/Metabolic Regulation (Nagatomo). Followings are brief introductions of research projects of each unit.


1. System Neurophysiology Scientific Focus

We have developed the neural pathway selective and reversible blocking methods and revealed the functions of specific neural pathways in macaque monkeys (e.g. Kinoshita et al, Nature Comm. 2019). This method is useful for clarifying the function of neural circuits, but it is a "day" order blocking method. Optogenetics, on the other hand, is a technique that can manipulate neural activity on a "millisecond" order. This method has produced a variety of important results in recent years in small animal models such as mice. However, it is difficult to say that any breakthroughs using optogenetics in large animals such as macaque monkeys have been reported so far. Our group aims to develop the application of optogenetics in primates. Specifically, we aim to use optogenetics in the superior colliculus, which is thought to be important in the processing of information that converts visual information into motor commands, to elucidate unresolved questions about its visual responses.


2. Neuro/Metabolic Regulation

Research keywords: glial cells, substantia nigra pars reticulata, striatum, basal ganglia, extracutaneous-distributed melanocytes



2. System Neurophysiology

Scientific Focus
We have developed the neural pathway selective and reversible blocking methods and revealed the functions of specific neural pathways in macaque monkeys (e.g. Kinoshita et al, Nature Comm. 2019). This method is useful for clarifying the function of neural circuits, but it is a "day" order blocking method. Optogenetics, on the other hand, is a technique that can manipulate neural activity on a "millisecond" order. This method has produced a variety of important results in recent years in small animal models such as mice. However, it is difficult to say that any breakthroughs using optogenetics in large animals such as macaque monkeys have been reported so far. Our group aims to develop the application of optogenetics in primates. Specifically, we aim to use optogenetics in the superior colliculus, which is thought to be important in the processing of information that converts visual information into motor commands, to elucidate unresolved questions about its visual responses.

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